Super League: Salford Red Devils 32-22 Leigh Leopards - Salford make it four wins from six

Highlights: Salford Red Devils 32-22 Leigh Leopards

Salford Red Devils got back to winning ways with a Rivals Weekend victory over Leigh Leopards in Super League.

The home side were never behind and scored five tries with two each for Ryan Brierley and Ethan Ryan and one for Marc Sneyd.

Umyla Hanley grabbed a hat-trick for the Leopards, and Lachlan Lam one, as they suffered a fourth league loss.

Salford stay seventh, but level on points with the four sides above them, while Leigh are in ninth.

The Red Devils were in charge from the moment last year's Challenge Cup hero Lam was sin-binned for taking out Brierley off the ball and with him on the sidelines, the Salford full-back grabbed the opening score.

Leigh had been second best but a strong break from Robbie Mulhern eventually led to 22-year-old Hanley, son of Wigan and Great Britain legend Ellery, touching down in the corner.

However, it was a rare foray from the visitors as they struggled to contain Salford's attacking game.

Brierley burst through the defence to grab his second, while Ireland winger Ryan crossed to round off another slick handling move.

The Red Devils survived 10 minutes with Brierley in the sin-bin, and with him back on the field, a fine offload from Oliver Partington set up Sneyd to provide a healthy cushion.

Lam grabbed his first try of the season, and Hanley his second on the night, following a misplaced pass from Matt Moylan, to briefly raise hopes of a comeback.

But a controversial score from Ryan when the ball may have been knocked forward eased any Salford nerves.

Hanley had time to complete a fine hat-trick, seven days after one in the Challenge Cup against Featherstone Rovers, but without the thrust of injured 2023 Dream Team trio Edwin Ipape, John Asiata and Tom Amone, things are looking much harder in 2024 for Leigh.

Salford: Brierley; Ryan, MacDonald, Lafai, Cross; Cust, Sneyd; Ormondroyd, Mellor, Wright, Stone, Watkins, Partington.

Interchanges: Bourouh, Vuniyayawa, Atkin, Shorrocks.

Sin-bin: Brierley (40)

Leigh: O'Brien; Hanley, Hardaker, Chamberlain, Charnley; Moylan, Lam; Norman, Dwyer, Mulhern, O'Donnell, Hughes, Trout.

Interchanges: Nakubuwai, Davis, Baxter, McNamara.

Sin-bin: Lam (7)

Referee: James Vella