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Devil In The Detail SRD · Coaches Corner with Chris Bates as Ladies prepare for Featherstone Lionesses in the League cup  It was another glorious win for Salford Red Devils Ladies in the League Cup as Salford's free scoring winger come Fullback Luci McKeown scored 7( SEVEN) tries against Featherstone Lionesses. Head Coach Chris Bates decided to keep Luci McKeown at Fullback as Erin Tong remains on the side lines with a knee injury, forward Yasmin Parton-Sotomayor came in for Megan Condliffe. Early in the contest both sides had chances to test their opponent's defence, Salford's loose forward Vannessa Hadley linked up with the impressive Yasmin Parton-Sotomayor who found centre Oliva Miah but the Lionesses defence stood firm and the chance went away. Featherstone moved the ball wide moments later space was created and only a try saving tackle by stand in Fullback Luci McKeown  prevented the Lionesses opening the scoring. Salford did open the scoring after 22 minutes, a wea

Devil In The Detail SRD · Sportszone 8th March Salford City Radio  Swinton Lions recorded their 1st victory of their 2022 season with a convincing win against West Wales Raiders at Heywood Road. Swinton opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, a creative Lions move sent Centre Liam Forsyth over for the opening score. 4 minutes later the Lions were in again, scrum half Jack Hanson combined well with 2nd row Rhodri Lloyd who served up Jordan Case for a easy score, The kick from Hanson was good and the lions lead 10 -0. It was all one way traffic at Heywood Road as Swinton moved the ball wide to allow Winger Richard Lepori to cross and extend their lead to 14 points. shortly after the West Wales defence spilt the ball trying to intercept and this allowed Max Roberts the opportunity to cross for the Lions. 18-0 after 16 minutes and Allan Colemans men kept the scoreboard ticking over. The next lion on the score sheet was Mike Butt. Swinton playing with confidence moved the ball wide allowing

Devil In The Detail SRD · Salford beat Leeds as Challenge cup and League Cup Fever arrives   What a glorious day Friday was. Possibly the warmest day of the year so far, lovely blue skies and a cup tie to kick off the weekend in the prestigious competition that is the Challenge Cup.  Salford’s only Challenge Cup triumph came in 1938 with a 7-4 win over Barrow at Wembley. Disappointingly for the club and the supporters the wait will go on at least another twelve months. The Red Devils just couldn’t get going. Credit to Wigan their defence was robust and very well organised. Salford rarely looked like scoring and frustrated themselves with lots of errors which in turn hampered any sort of progress. Wigan got their first try on the back of a Salford mistake. Liam Byrne powered over through some poor tackling and Zak Hardacker converted 6-0. Four minutes later Liam Marshall who’s by know means the tallest out jumped the Salford defence to touch down. With fifteen minutes gone Salford were

Devil In The Detail SRD · Salford beat Leeds as Challenge cup and League Cup Fever arrives   Wigan v Salford.  After their promotion back to top flight rugby league in the early 1980s Wigan went on to create a real dynasty. They dominated the Challenge Cup from 1988 to 1995 making the trophy their own.  Wigan began their rise a few years before the 88 final. The club started to recruit top talent from around the league. Take Salford for example. The club had enjoyed good success through the 70s but by the end of the decade it was starting to fizzle out.  Looking back Salford should of been the team of the new digital decade. The decade of the 1980s! The Red Devil’s had a team full of young talent including Paul Fletcher, David Stephenson, Colin Whitfield, Paul O’Neil, Ged Byrne, Stewart Williams, Dave Harris, Chris McGreal and Mal Yates to name a few. They also had the experience in Steve Nash and Mike Coulman. For one reason or another things didn’t work out for Salford. A fourth pla

Devil In The Detail SRD · Tony Prescott talks Masters Rugby Two teams in poor form and low on confidence! Something had to give in this crossroads kind of match. We are only five games into the season but it felt very much like the pressure was on leading up to kick off.  Leeds had really made a statement in the off season with so me very high profile signings. Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer had played together at Canberra Raiders in the NRL and this mouth watering partnership was set to reignite in 2022. So far though it’s not really happened. The Rhinos have won one out of five in the Super League and were embarrassed at home to Hull last week in a pretty woeful display. Salford started the season in positive fashion with two solid performances but three defeats have followed leaving the Red Devils looking for a bounce back kind of victory. Despite Leeds’s poor start they are still a huge player in Rugby Leagues’s top flight and a win for Salford would certainly give the players a hu

Devil In The Detail SRD · Loan moves galore as the Red Robins come bobbin This match now looks a huge game for both clubs. Salford are low on confidence after three straight defeats and Leeds have one win from five matches. The Rhinos spent big in the off season bringing in two high profile half backs with Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin linking up in West Yorkshire but up to know it’s been very disappointing.  Salford’s record against Leeds in all competitions is one of the worst in rugby league. Wins at Headingley are very rare and since Super League started in 1996 the Red Devils have beaten Leeds on three occasions in a home fixture out of twenty five attempts. Last Friday saw Salford go eighteen points behind in a miserable first half at home to Hull Kingston Rovers. Their was an improvement in the second half with the Red Devils clawing back to trail 16-18. Rovers were the better side though and took the points back to Humberside. Leeds played a day earlier at home to Hull Fc and

Devil In The Detail SRD · International Womens day Salford ladies Captain Louise Fellingham Interview  Salford Red Devils ladies were in league cup action at Salford City Roosters as they were drawn against Wigan St Patricks Ladies on Sunday afternoon. Head Coach Chris Bates Rang the changes as fullback Erin Tong failed to recover from a knee injury, Jenna Monks came in from the bench, Ebonne Fletcher came in for Laura Bent and Casey Naylor starting at prop. Salford started brightly probing the Wigan defence for a opening, Steph Gray had the 1st opportunity for the Red Devils but a last ditch defensive effort by St Pats kept the game scoreless. Gray was not to be denied 5 minutes later, Salford's utility back playing in the centre  powered onto a Louise Fellington pass to open the scoring for the Red Devils, the conversion was missed but Salford were on the board. Scrum half Demi Jones who shone throughout teased the Wigan defence with a inch perfect grubber kick after 13 minutes

Devil In The Detail SRD · Sportszone 22nd Feb Salford City Radio Swinton Lions continued their pre season with a impressive victory on the road against Keighley Cougars. Swinton Started brightly and after some creative play Dan Abraham found space to go over for the 1st score of the afternoon. The conversion was missed and Swinton lead 0-4. Swinton had momentum and after some good work by Luke Waterworth the lions hooker linking up with Ben Hayes sending  Max Roberts over to score. The travelling lions support were delighted the kick was good and the score was 0-10. Keighley hit back after 10 minutes as Mo Agoro was on the end of a sweeping move and the Swinton's lead was cut to 6 points. Four minute later Swinton extended their lead Jack Spencer put Swinton in a dangerous area and from the resulting drop out and they were rewarded when Waterworth crashed over to score. Conversion was good and the score board read 4-16 Swinton. Keighley needed to find a way into the contest and a

Devil In The Detail SRD · International Womens day Salford ladies Captain Louise Fellingham Interview   This Sunday Salford Red Devils ladies face Wigan St Pats at Salford City Roosers, Rob Spoke the Ladies head coach Chris Bates ahead of the big game and this is what he had to say. Last week you beat Super League side Wakefield at home, it was a massive result for your girls, what did you take from it? We did, it was a fantastic performance for us. We set our sights on that game as a true test of where we’re at. Wakefield will be the first to say they had a tough year last year but they’re a super league side non-the-less and they’re looking to build up to a big campaign.  With that in mind we knew they would come strong and we wanted to see how we compared. Turning them over confirmed everything we’d been thinking about our ability as a side really and probably sets some expectations for the year that we’re going to have to work really hard to hit, but we now know we can. You have

Devil In The Detail SRD · Loan moves galore as the Red Robins come bobbin   After two defeats on the road in Yorkshire, Salford were looking for some home comforts on their return to the AJ Bell Stadium. Visitors Hull Kingston Rovers had just one victory from their first four matches and were also looking to kickstart their 2022 season.  After a much pleasanter week weather wise the rain had returned leaving a pretty damp and grey evening just before kick off.  Salford coach Paul Rowley made a couple of changes with Tim Lafai returning to replace Matty Costello at centre. James Greenwood came back in after injury and Danny Addy started at loose forward with Elijah Taylor on the bench.  Alex Gerrard also made the bench with Rowley opting for four forwards.  The Robins had Will Dagger at fullback for the injured Lachlan Coote. Jordan Abdull and Mikey Lewis were the half backs with Matt Parcell at hooker.  The pitch looked in good shape as the match kicked off, perhaps a touch greasy whi

Devil In The Detail SRD · International Womens day Salford ladies Captain Louise Fellingham Interview As Ive mentioned so many times before form and confidence in Rugby League can change so fast. Salford made a very solid start to the season with two victories but now after two pretty heavy defeats the mood is changing.  Paul Rowley remained positive and up beat after the defeat to Huddersfield and naturally he defended his players. I don’t think their was a lack of effort in Sunday’s 34-2 defeat but we do seem to be lacking the size and aggression needed. Huddersfield’s forwards looked a stone heavier and a foot taller as they pummelled Salford all afternoon. We never really looked like scoring but you can have the best back line in the world, if you haven’t laid the platform with your pack you won’t get the territory and field position. You’ve got to earn the right to play. I don’t think their is a quick fix for Salford but on the other hand I still don’t think it’s time to panic.

Devil In The Detail SRD · Humbled at Hull, bouncing back at Huddesfield?   For the second week running it was a journey up the m62 for Salford and their supporters. This time the match was in Huddersfield. If you arrive by train the first thing you notice is the glorious stone buildings and the George hotel, the birth place of Rugby League.  This industrial mill town in West Yorkshire has played a pivotal part in the history of Rugby League. Many classic cup ties were played at Huddersfield’s old Fartown ground. The Giants moved to their current home in 1992. They share the John Smiths Stadium with Football club Huddersfield Town.  After a disappointing display in Hull last Saturday Salford coach Paul Rowley was looking for a response from his players. The Giants like Salford had won their first two matches but were beaten at Wigan last week.  As expected Deon Cross came back in to the starting thirteen for the suspended Dan Sarginson. Tim Lafai was also replaced at centre by Matty Co

Devil In The Detail SRD · Humbled at Hull, bouncing back at Huddesfield? Salford Red Devils ladies recorded their 2nd win in their pre season schedule after beating Super League Team Wakefield in a barnstorming performance at Cadishead Rhinos on Sunday. Chris Bates ladies were narrowly beaten last week against Wigan Warriors and they were hoping to bounce back with a win.  Chris Bates rang the changes with Lucy Mceown coming into the back division and Laura Bent coming into the pack  with Jenny Monks and Hanah Wicks dropping to the interchange bench. In the early stages of the contest Wakefield put pressure on Salford but the ladies put up some big defence to repel the danger. Wakefields disapline was questioned as they were reduced to 12 ladies with a sin bin after 10 minutes Salford with Captain Louise Fellingham and Vannessa Hadley dictating operations Salford had a period of pressure which didn’t result in a try and Trinity were back to a full team 10 minutes later. Wakefield ope