Saints continued their 100% record with a pretty convincing win away to Salford.
MATCH DETAILS
Salford prop Lee Mossop was drafted into the side despite not being named in their original 19 man squad but he only lasted six minutes.
The opening 20 minutes were a real arm wrestle with both teams fighting for territory but it was Saints who opened the scoring with Mark Percival picking the pockets of Derrell Olpherts claim a high ball.
They went further ahead as Jonny Lomax scored his third of the season when he shrug off Robert Lui to make it 10-0.
Saints were in complete control coming into half time and Salford had done well to keep them to only two scores but James Roby scooted from dummy half to score a trademark hooker’s try. Lachlan Coote converted to make it 16-0 at half time.
It could have been worse for Salford after the break as Saints completely bombed a try. Tommy Makinson made a break, exchanging passes with Mark Percival only to be taken into touch with a brilliant try saving tackle from Jackson Hastings. A run inside from Makinsonย ย instead of going for the corner would have resulted in a certain try.
Olpherts returned the favour with Mark Percival as he took a high ball to give Salford their first try of the game.
Saints were in no real danger of losing the game though and victory looked imminent as Regan Grace scored in the corner as the ball was spread from the scrum.
Roby then scored his second of the game in the final minutes. Makinson made another long range break and it was finished off by man of the match Roby to make the final score 26-4.
FOUR POINTERS
Man of Steel already?
There isn’t much that hasn’t been said about James Roby. No doubt he will get another three points when the Man of Steel round four points come in. Roby was superb as he scored two tries, the second in which he backed up a Tommy Makinson break with minutes left on the clock. He had absolutely no right to be there whatsoever.
https://nothingbutleague.com/2019/02/07/super-league-steve-prescott-man-of-steel-results/
Defensively brilliant
Salford can be a dangerous team especially with Jackson Hastings and Robert Lui directing the team. However they didn’t have a sniff against Saints with their only try coming from a kick. Special mentions go to Morgan Knowles, Dom Peyroux and the little French terrier, Theo Fages.
The majority had Salford down as near the bottom in the pre-season predictions but they have shown they could be dark horses this season. Despite Saints being the far better team, Salford did a decent job in keeping the scoreline respectable and there were positives to take from the game . Three wins from five is just about right and I think they could challenge for 6th position.
Steeden footy advantage in wet
Players and coaches were happy with the decision to change from Rhino balls to Steeden and you could see why. The weather was atrocious yet handling from both sides was pretty good. The only straightforward knock on without came with Gil Dudson fumbling the ball from a pass from dummy half late on in the game.
THE RESULT
Salford Red Devils 4ย
Tries: Olpherts
Goals: n/a
Drop Goals:ย
St Helens 26
Tries: Percival (1) Lomax (1) Roby (2) Grace (1)
Goals: Coote (3 out of 5)
Drop Goals: r n/a
SQUADS
Salford Red Devils :ย Evalds, Olpherts, Welham, Sa’u, Sio, Lui, Hastings, Mossop, Lussick, Dudson, Jones, Turgut, Griffin
Subs:ย Burke, Nakubuwai, McCarthy, Tomkins
St Helens: Coote, Makinson, Grace, Costello, Percival, Lomax, Fages, Thompson, Roby, Walmsley, Peyroux, Taia, Knowles.
Subs: Paulo, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Lees.
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