Super League: Huddersfield Giants 8-32 Salford - Red Devils strengthen play-off hopes

Sam Stone scored a try in both halves to give Salford a first win in seven matches

Salford Red Devils eased past Huddersfield to end a six-match losing run and boost their play-off hopes.

Jake Bibby put the Giants ahead, but Ryan Brierley soon levelled in an error-strewn first half before Sam Stone's neat finish gave Salford a 12-8 half-time lead.

Stone's second extended the lead before Ken Sio scored his 100th Super League try to put Salford clear.

Chris Atkin added the try of the night to cap a superb second-half display.

Salford moved into the play-off spots in sixth, while Huddersfield remain four points outside the top six with five games to play.

The Red Devils bossed the opening exchanges, but were unable to capitalise and the Giants struck first after 20 minutes.

In an error-strewn first half, the hosts were gifted field position when Oliver Partington spilled the ball deep in his own half, and just a few tackles later, Bibby went over on his 150th Super League appearance, despite a hint of a knock-on.

In such poor form, Salford's heads could have dropped, but they hit back within three minutes when Brody Croft's super delayed pass created a gap for Brierley to sprint through to the line.

An Oliver Russell penalty nudged Huddersfield ahead, but Joe Burgess drove the Red Devils upfield, and Stone's neat sidestep and reach for the line put the visitors ahead at the break.

Perhaps showing rustiness after a two-week break, both sides continued to cough up possession in the second half as neither play-off candidate was able to carve out a meaningful lead.

Yet another Giants error ultimately lit the blue touchpaper for the Red Devils.

The hosts allowed Marc Sneyd's high bomb to bounce, Kallum Watkins reclaimed the ball and Stone then raced on to Andy Ackers' chip ahead to give Salford a 10-point lead.

A moment of quality finally gave the visitors breathing space when Sio won the foot race for a nicely-weighted kick through and duly celebrated his personal landmark score.

Huddersfield had gone into the fixture with four wins from five, but their out-of-sorts evening was summed up when Sam Halsall dropped the ball as he crossed before Watkins released Chris Atkin to add further misery.

Huddersfield Giants head coach Ian Watson:

"Salford were more desperate than we were. They defended a lot more aggressively and played smart with the ball in hand.

"We spent a lot of energy playing with 12 men against St Helens last week and Salford did a good job in making us defend early.

"But there was no excuse for that second-half display. We needed to tidy up what we did wrong in the first half, but we didn't do that.

"There is still a long time to go in the season. But it is running out pretty fast."

Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley:

"Everyone is looking at everyone else. There are so many permutations. This has put other teams on notice.

"We believe we can win each and every week. It doesn't always happen so we never get too high or too low.

"But I am pleased for the players because they have deserved it before and not got it. Tonight, they deserved it and got it.

"Our character has been there throughout. We are a group that is very together in good times and bad."

Huddersfield: Connor, Halsall, Bibby, Naiqama, Marsters, Russell, Lolohea, Hill, Milner, Wilson, Cudjoe, McQueen, Yates.

Interchanges: Peats, English, Hewitt, Ikahihifo.

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Singleton, Ackers, Partington, Stone, Watkins, Addy.

Interchanges: Ormondroyd, Vuniyayawa, Atkin, Hellewell.

Referee: Liam Moore.

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