Leigh keep up play-off push by demolishing Salford

Betfred Super League

Leigh (12) 26

Tries: Ipape, Hanley, Hardaker, Leutele Goals: Hardaker 5

Salford (0) 0

Leigh Leopards kept up their push for a top-six spot with a stylish win over Salford Red Devils at the Magic Weekend.

Edwin Ipape got Leigh on the board within five minutes and Salford were reduced to 11 soon after when Ethan Ryan and Brad Singleton were sent to the bin in quick succession.

Umyla Hanley ran in from distance as Leigh made their player advantage count before the break.

In a more subdued second half, Zak Hardaker went in for Leigh with eight minutes to spare to ensure there was no way back for Salford, while Ricky Leutele dived in to seal the two points.

Victory for Adrian Lam's Leopards lifted them to seventh in Super League and three points off the Red Devils, who occupy the final play-off place.

Defeat for Salford means they have won just twice in their past six games and have failed to score on two occasions during that time.

Salford's indiscipline caught up with them after Ipape got the ball over the line early on to begin Leigh's ascendancy at Elland Road.

First, Ryan saw yellow for a challenge on Leutele with a high arm, while Singleton was sent to the bin shortly after for a leaving his arm in late in a challenge on Gareth O'Brien.

It did not take long for Leigh to make their superior numbers count, with Hanley racing in from just past halfway to further extend the Leopards' lead.

Salford's Chris Hankinson defended valiantly just before the hour mark as he put in a tremendous last-ditch try-saving tackle to deny O'Brien, but the Red Devils rarely threatened at the other end.

Leigh ripped open the Salford defence once more as Ipape sent Hardaker through to run in with ease under the posts, while Leutele dived at the corner to seal a comprehensive win.

The Leopards' thumping win also made history as, after Wigan's 20-0 demolition of St Helens yesterday, it is the first time two teams have been nilled during a Magic Weekend.

Edwin Ipape scored Leigh's first try against Salford - and his fifth this season

Leigh head coach Adrian Lam:

“It’s just important that what we are in control of at the moment is that 80-minute performance, so it’s one week at a time.

“If we look too far ahead, things can turn ugly pretty quickly. It’s just making sure we work hard together every day and we work for those 80 minutes.”

Salford head coach Paul Rowley:

“If anyone is panicking, it’s not where I am. Nobody was panicking near me, so we’re all right. There’s no panic, but there’s always pressure.

“That’s internal pressure, not external pressure. We all concern ourselves with what we do and the thoughts of what we have within our own and nothing else.”

Leigh: Hardaker; McIntosh, Hanley, Leutele, Brand; O'Brien, Lam; Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Donnell, Halton, Asiata.

Interchanges: Hughes, Pene, Trout, Dwyer.

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

Interchanges: Shorrocks, Hankinson, Lewis, Bullock.

Referee: Liam Moore.