Salford vs Warrington Match report
After a week of red hot temperatures their were a few clouds around on Sunday to spare the players very slightly but it was still very warm and muggy for this lunch time kick off.
Salford coach Paul Rowley was forced into making changes after suspension ruled out Kallum Watkins and Oliver Partington. The ever reliable Chris Atkin moved to loose forward with Ben Hellewell dropping into the second row.
Amir Bourouh and Andrew Dixon were on the bench.
Warrington had a pretty strong line up with Matt Dufty at full back. George Williams and Josh Drinkwater were the halves with Danny Walker at hooker. James Harrison the son of former Salford coach Karl started at loose forward with Daryl Clark on the bench.
Matches between these two sides over the years have always been entertaining affairs and this match was another thriller.
Salford got off to a poor start when Joe Burgess failed to deal with a Warrington kick. Matty Nicholson took advantage for a gift try which Stefan Ratchford converted, 0-6.
Deon Cross was denied by the video referee after a wonderful pick up taking a poor pass that was almost on his boot laces. It did look like his momentum had taken him over the line but the video referee adjudged his ball carry arm was down.
Wolves prop Paul Vaughan came very close but couldn’t ground the ball.
The hosts hit back at just the right time after good play from Danny Addy and Marc Sneyd. Scrum half Sneyd provided a lovely flat pass for Hellewell who ran a perfect line to motor through the Warrington defence. Sneyd converted, 6-6.
The Red Devils seemed to up the tempo and after sustained pressure in Wolves territory Ryan Brierley nailed Dufty with a perfect tackle chasing a kick. This seemed to rattle the visitors and Salford sensed it forcing the mistake moments later. The ball went wide and Brodie Croft got the try. Sneyd booted Salford in front at 12-6. All this came on the back of Sneyd’s break. He might not be the quickest on his feet but he certainly is between the ears.
Salford spurned the chance of a drop goal just before the break and when Ken Sio lost the ball in is own half the Wolves went for it from the scrum. A kick through for Josh Thewlis looked to be a try but when the video referee checked it his foot was agonisingly in touch. After a whirlwind forty minutes the hosts led 12-6 at half time.
Salford started the second half like they did the first. Sio spilled Williams high kick and Ben Currie scored. Ratchford levelled the score at 12-12 with a tricky conversion.
This seemed to kick start the Wolves and they began to turn the screw, piling on the pressure and a drop out was forced. Salford were off the hook when Matty Ashton coughed up the drop out but Warrington were gifted a penalty shortly after which Ratchford nailed from over forty yards out, 12-14.
Salford refused to lie down and they came back at the Wolves cranking up the pressure to force another drop out. Brodie Croft kicked which hit the Warrington defender before he regathered to grab his second try. Croft deserved it he worked tirelessly in attack and defence in another all action display of sheer commitment and quality. Sneyd converted, 18-14.
With just over ten minutes remaining the match hung in the balance. Both sides still full of running and energy. Salford conceded a soft penalty and this allowed the Wolves the chance to attack. Dufty produced a wonderful offload to send Williams over and Ratchford’s conversion nudged Warrington in front again at 18-20.
As the clock counted down Salford had to keep the ball alive but they didn’t panic and with five minutes remaining Sneyd levelled the score with a penalty goal. 20-20.
Sneyd had been the architect of so much good play from Salford and he looked to drop a goal late on but space seemed to open for him. After a frantic piece of play Warrington managed to hold their line but conceded a drop out. They tried to go short but knocked on and now Salford had the perfect platform to win the match. Brad Singleton was penalised for a push on the next play and it looked like the Devils had blown it. By this time it was fever pitch rugby league. The crowd were on their feet and the hooter sounded to send the match in to Golden Point Extra time.
Possession is the key in these situations and when Salford forced an error in good field position it had to be driven to the sticks for the one pointer. Sneyd went early and the kick sailed towards the posts. It shuddered against the up-right and bounced away before the Wolves reclaimed possession.
Sometimes seasons are defined by key moments and when Singleton fanned a beautiful pass to Tim Lafai he put Joe Burgess away. The crowd roared the Salford five along as he glided down the pitch. This had to be it and it was. Sam Stone was in support after playing a gruelling eighty minutes, but he kept going, kept his nerve and raced over to give the match a Grandstand finish.
Salford had a minutes applause to commemorate the wonderful David Watkins who passed away recently and he would of been proud of that win today.
The 2023 story continues next Saturday for Salford who stay behind Warrington in the League table but both sides are now level on twenty six points with just points difference separating them. Salford go to Hull Kingston Rovers next Saturday night while Warrington host St.Helens twenty four hours earlier. Pardon the pun but it could go right down to the wire.
Salford 24 Warrington 20.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.
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