Super League: Salford Red Devils 18-12 Huddersfield Giants - Hosts edge first win in three
- Published
Tui Lolohea has scored three tries for Salford Red Devils so far this season
Betfred Super League |
|---|
Salford 18 (6) |
Tries: Williams, Lolohea, Ormondroyd Goals: Inu 3 |
Huddersfield 12 (8) |
Tries: English Goals: Pryce 4 |
Salford Red Devils overturned a half-time deficit to defeat Huddersfield Giants and for their first Super League win for three matches.
Matty English had given the Giants the early advantage before Rhys Williams got the hosts on the board.
But second-half scores from Tui Lolohea and Jack Ormondroyd turned the match in the Red Devils' favour.
Huddersfield's only points in the second 40 minutes came from two Will Pryce goals as Salford sealed victory.
The Giants had won their previous three games and arrived at the AJ Bell Stadium with hopes of keeping that run going and having a late charge for the top six and the play-off spots.
They lost Ricky Leutele to injury early on, although English soon powered through the home defence to score.
Yet when Krisnan Inu intercepted a pass just before half-time and released winger Williams to go the length of the field, Salford were back in the game.
And they carried that momentum with them after the break to record a hard-fought win and pay a fitting tribute to captain Lee Mossop, who was given a guard of honour before kick-off by both sets of players having announced his immediate retirement from the game earlier this week on medical grounds.
Despite the victory, Salford are 10th in Super League, with Huddersfield one place above them in ninth.
The result is Huddersfield boss Ian Watson's second defeat against his former side, with the Red Devils narrowly beating them 9-8 at the John Smith's Stadium in June.
Salford Head Coach Richard Marshall:
"We did it for our skipper. We had a chat in the week and this wasn't about Ian Watson or me, we kept turning up for Lee Mossop.
"His work ethic is ingrained in our squad. He has been great for me in the nine months I've been working with him.
"There were a few tears before the game. Today was definitely for Lee Mossop."
Huddersfield Head Coach Ian Watson:
"I thought we were good enough to win the game, but we were our own worst enemies at times. It's fine margins but we've got to learn and be smart.
"Salford are a tough team and hard to beat, but they didn't need a helping hand from us."
Salford: Lolohea, Williams, Inu, Costello, Burgess, Atkin, Brown, Johnson, Ackers, Ormondroyd, Livett, Greenwood, Burke.
Interchanges: Luckley, Norman, Addy, Robson.
Huddersfield: Golding, Leutele, J. Wardle, Cudjoe, Senior, Cogger, Pryce, Trout, Peats, Wilson, Greenwood, Jones, Yates.
Interchanges: English, Hewitt, Peteru, Wood.
Referee: C. Kendall.