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Devil In The Detail SRD · League Cup Final special with Demi Jones and Chris Bates   Salford v St.Helens. Well it’s been quite a few weeks for Salford Rugby League Club. A marvellous win over Catalans was followed up by an equally impressive display in France against Toulouse. Paul Rowley’s team now sit in sixth place on the Super League table and a playoff spot is a very realistic target. Every game in Super League is a mission in its own right and the Red Devils have some tricky fixtures coming up in the run in. This Sunday St.Helens are the visitors. The Saints have been the most consistent team so far in 2022 with seventeen wins from their twenty matches played. Salford have more or less matched Saints for points scored this season but it’s the defence of Kristian Woolf’s side that sets them apart from the rest of the league. They are such a difficult team to score against. Perhaps this match has come along at just the right time for Salford. Confidence is flowing and the attack

Devil In The Detail SRD · What's French for minerals podcast?   Salford Red Devils ladies warmed up for their League Cup Final against Orrell St James with a tremendous win away at Dewsbury Moor. The weather conditions in Yorkshire was wet and windy and Salford's fast flowing style of play would have have been tested by opponents they beat in the League Cup semi final a couple of weeks ago. New Signing Sade Rihari came in to centre replacing the injured Steph Gray, Jena Monks and Brogan Evans started on the wings in place of Kate Garry and Lauren Ellison. Salford opened the scoring after 3 minutes GB Teachers international Alex Simpson found space on the outside after a Dewsbury Moor error from a Demi Jones kick and crossed for the Red Devils, Demi Jones converted and Salford lead.   Salford senced they had momentum and after 5 minutes of Salford pressure all the hard work  paid off as good play from Captain Louise Fellingham caused the Moor defence to creek and new signing S

Devil In The Detail SRD · What's French for minerals podcast?  Toulouse open the scoring at 6 minutes the ball was moved wide and Salfords defence was breached by  Mathieu Jussaume   . The conversion was good and the French men lead 6-0. It took Salford 25 minutes to level the scores Salfords scrum half Marc Sneyd with a trademark kick to the corner to set up the Salford Winger Joe Burgess for the score. Sneyd converted and after 30 minutes the score was tied. Salford were looking dangerous with Brodie Croft coming close to a score for Paul Rowleys men, unfortunately it was Toulouse who registered the next points a drop goal by put Toulouse ahead Toulouse had momentum and they tested the Salford defence, only a try saving ankle tap prevented a score by Joe Burgess as Paul Rowleys men tried to weather the storm. With Half time fast approaching Toulouse we’re awarded a penalty which Hankinson converted and at the break Salford trailed 9-6. The 2nd half started with Salford pressure

Devil In The Detail SRD · Pop up Podcast with Helena Walker talking Salford Ladies In the years I’ve watched Salford we’ve never been the media darlings. At times the side has let the club down with poor performances and big defeats but over the last few years the team and club have made the City proud with their achievements. We don’t have the resources that other clubs have but the team spirit under coach Paul Rowley is one to be admired. Add to that the great work that’s going on off the field with the foundation, the ladies team, the supporters trust and the PDRL team I think the club deserves some kind words. I am not really fussed what pundits say about us but some comments last weekend were way off the mark. People are entitled to their opinions and I respect that but at times in Rugby League their can be a stench of favouritism and snobbery shown towards certain clubs, a complete lack of respect. What a heroic match we saw last Sunday. The perfect combination of blistering at

Salford Red Devils ladies continued their charge for a league and cup double with a dominant display at the  AJ Bell against Hull KR. England International forward Sarina Tamou returned after missing last weeks semi final win because she was cup tied. Chris Bates bench consisted of a mix of pace and power to unleash on Hull KR on a warm day. Salford opened the scoring after 4 minutes Fullback Luci Mckeown raced onto a pass teased the back peddling Hull KR defence and sent Centre Steph Gray over for the opening score from 30 metres. Demi Jones Salfords scrum half who was busy all afternoon tagged the conversation and Salford lead 6-0. Luci Mckeown who has recently been selected in the Ireland squad to face Wales in European Championship was on the score sheet in this game 5 minutes later. Stand-off and Captain Louise Fellingham tracked across the field from 20 metres out found Mckeown who had the speed of thought and legs to score. Jones converted again and Salford were 12 points up aft

Devil In The Detail SRD · Ladies though to Final as Rowleys men with broken bodies welcome Dragons We thought it was warm last weekend in Newcastle but today in Salford the temperature felt like being in the Sahara desert. Just walking to the ground you could feel the heat, no breeze at all. As the players jogged out at 3pm for kick off it was well over thirty degrees. Catalans are probably a little more acclimatised to these conditions playing over in Perpignan and they opened the scoring with a try from Joe Chan in the eighth minute. The Dragons dominated the possession and territory for the majority of the first half but at times Salford’s defence was outstanding. Last ditch tackles, organisation and a real doggedness. The Red Devils are one of the most clinical teams in the league on attack when they go through the gears. A slick passing move and a tremendous finish in the corner from Ken Sio got Salford’s first try. Their didn’t look enough space to squeeze in but Sio made the s

Devil In The Detail SRD · Coaches Corner with Danny Orr ahead of Catalan Sunday Both sides left Newcastle empty handed last Sunday. Salford fought back well in the second half against Huddersfield and it was great to see Sam Luckley get a try in front of the Gallowgate end. The Giants however were the better side and deserved to win the match. Catalans played Warrington in the next match and this game provided the shock of the weekend. The Dragons had beaten St.Helens the previous week in a cracking match in Perpignan.  The Wolves were low on confidence but with the returning George Williams in the team produced one of their best displays of the season running out 10-36 winners.  Salford now sit eighth in the Super League table, four points off the playoffs and six points in front of bottom side Toulouse. The Red Devils can’t afford to look to far ahead. Paul Rowley’s squad is being tested even more now with Tyler Dupree and Harvey Livett both picking up injuries against the Giants.

Devil In The Detail SRD · Salford Red Devils ladies Semi final Special   Salford Red Devils ladies are celebrating as they are through to the League Cup final after beating Dewsbury Moor at a sun-drenched Salford City Roosters stadium on Sunday afternoon. Chris Bates gave fullback Luci Mckeown and 2nd row forward Vicki Kini late fitness tests which both passed to allow them to take part in this historic fixture. Megan Condliffe continued at loose forward and Helena Walker, Casey Naylor and Brogan Evans started on the bench.  It was Dewsbury Moor who started the brightest, a couple of incomplete sets by Salford provided them with the territory to spring a early attack, the ball was moved wide Salford's defence was stretched scrum half Millie Taylor was in support to crash over to give Moor a early lead. Conversion was missed and Salford trailed 0-4 with 3 minutes gone. After going behind the ladies remained focused and started to find their rhythm, With Darcy Price and Casey Naylor

Devil In The Detail SRD · Its a kind of magic (weekend) pod after scenes in Warrington   On the journey up to the North East the temperature was heading towards twenty three degrees at 10am in the morning so by Kick off at 1pm the heat was always going to be tough.  The setting for this match was like a cup final. A glorious Stadium and the playing surface looked like a subbuteo mat brand new out of the box. Salford coach Paul Rowley kept his starting thirteen unchanged from last week. The only difference was Elijah Taylor returned on the bench in place of Matty Costello.  Ian Watson had former Salford players Theo Fages, Luke Yates and Tui Lolohea in his starting side. Lance Todd Trophy winner Chris McQueen was in the second row. Salford came in to the match on the back of to thrilling victories at both ends of the scale. The Giants may have lost at Castleford last Friday but overall they have won six from the last seven.  All the talk on the pitch before the match from the stadium a

Devil In The Detail SRD · Salford Red Devils ladies Semi final Special A long suffering Salford supporter said to me on Sunday evening that the win at Warrington was even better than the seventy four point battering of Wakefield. Some may say how is that possible but I knew exactly what he meant.  Sunday’s victory had everything, a very dominant opening, a touch of adversity being reduced to twelve men and then a magnificent show of character to fight back from 24-8 points down with only twenty five minutes left. The players showed resilience and composure. It was heart warming to see the happy faces of the Salford supporters at the final whistle and the moment the players and staff huddled on the pitch. Team spirit and togetherness can’t be bought by money. It has to be nurtured from within, earned and worked for. Success in sport doesn’t come easy. It’s not all champagne and skittles.  Salford go into the Magic Weekend full of confidence. We may be struggling with numbers at the mo