Salford 33-16 Huddersfield: Red Devils continue play-off hopes with impressive victory

Josh McAllister 13 Aug 2022 2:53 PM

Salford Red Devils kept their play-off hopes alive with a 33-16 victory over Huddersfield at the AJ Bell Stadium live on Channel 4.

The win keeps the pressure on sixth-placed Leeds, who are now just one point ahead of Paul Rowley’s side in the Super League table.

The Red Devils ran in six tries in total, with five coming in the first half to give them a healthy lead at the break.

Ian Watson’s Giants remain three points behind second placed Wigan, who travel to Wakefield on Sunday.

Match report

Tyler Dupree returned for Salford and was named at starting prop. Harvey Livett also returned from injury and was named on the bench.

Chris Hill made his return for the Giants for the first time since the Challenge Cup final. Oliver Russell started in the halves alongside Theo Fages.

Ken Sio opened the scoring inside the first four minutes with his 23rd try of the season. The Red Devils ran it on the last and a cut out pass to Deon Cross allowed him to feed his winger into some space in the corner.

Joe Burgess raced away for their second just four minutes later. The England World Cup hopeful reacting to a dropped ball from Tui Lolohea to race away 80 metres and score.

It was the perfect start for the hosts, as Kallum Watkins made it 16-0 inside the first 12 minutes. The back-rower grounding a ball from a kick to extend the lead.

Fresh from his new one-year deal, Chris McQueen scored Huddersfield’s first on 18 minutes. The 35-year-old stealing possession from Burgess from the scrum to race away from 20 metres out and score.

Ryan Brierley restored Salford’s 16 point lead on 25 minutes. The full-back this time supporting Sio on a scrum play.

Tim Lafai further extended that lead just three minutes later, grounding a kick through from Sneyd.

Brodie Croft was sent to the sin-bin on the hooter for a ruck infringement. Oliver Russell adding the two from a penalty conversion.

HT: Salford 26-6 Huddersfield

Huddersfield managed to cross for one try over a 12-man Salford on 48 minutes. The Giants breaking from inside their own half before Sam Hewitt grounded a kick from Fages.

Hewitt bagged a brace just two minutes later for a 26-16 score and 30 minutes left on the clock.

Salford’s first points of the second 40 game from the boot of Sneyd on 64 minutes with a penalty conversion.

The goal-kicking half-back secured the victory with just five minutes left on the clock with a perfect drop-goal in front of the home supporters, before Livett scored on 77 minutes on his return.

HT: Salford 33-16 Huddersfield

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Dupree, Ackers, Wright, Taylor, Watkins, Gerrard. Bench: Ormondroyd, Akauola, Atkin, Livvet.

Tries: Sio, Burgess, Watkins, Brierley, Lafai, Livett.

Goals: Sneyd 4/7

DG: Sneyd 1

Huddersfield: Lolohea, L.Senior, Cudjoe, King, I.Senior, Russell, Fages, Hill, O’Brien, Trout, Hewitt, McQueen, Yates. Bench: Wilson, Greenwood, Ashworth, Levi.

Tries: McQueen, Hewitt (2)

Goals: Russell 2/4

Attendance: 4,400

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