Salford see off Catalans to go fourth

Betfred Super League

Salford (12) 27

Tries: Nikorima, Mellor, Lafai, Cross Goals: Sneyd 5 Drop-goal: Sneyd

Catalans (6) 12

Tries: Mourgue, Sironen Goal: Mourgue 2

Salford Red Devils all but ended Catalans Dragons' hopes of a Super League play-off spot and boosted their own aspirations as they moved up to fourth in the table with a clinical win.

Strong early Catalans pressure saw them well on top but they only had an Arthur Mourgue penalty to show for it.

The visitors then gifted Salford a try with some calamitous defending, which eventually allowed Jayden Nikorima to score against his former club.

Catalans were soon back on terms at 6-6 when a swift break and some quick ball led to Mourgue going over, but Joe Mellor's crafty close-range try and Marc Sneyd's second kick put Salford 12-6 up at the interval.

The class of Sneyd and Tim Lafai told after the break, the former helping to tee up the latter for a third score, before Lafai laid on a fourth try with a wonderful pass to Deon Cross.

A spirited late rally by the visitors enabled Bayley Sironen to cross to make it 26-12.

Marc Sneyd was typically influential, both with ball in hand and his ever-reliable kicking

However, there was still time for Sneyd to slot a mammoth drop-goal to seal the hosts' 27-12 win.

It was a fitting end to a gritty team performance which leaves Salford a point clear of fifth-placed Leigh and two ahead of St Helens and Leeds in sixth and seventh.

But defeat means Catalans remain eighth in the table with just two games to go and now need a highly unlikely set of results to sneak into the top six.

Salford were great value for the win, combining a resolute defensive showing with some impressive and ruthless attacking.

Sneyd's cute kicking game and accuracy when going for goal ultimately made all the difference, while Catalans failed to make their most of a blistering start and numerous forays into Salford territory.

Salford coach Paul Rowley told BBC2:

“We played really well. It was a little stop-start at times but we showed a tremendous amount of resilience. For the first five minutes, we didn’t touch the ball.

“But we grew from that and then we dominated field position and possession and we executed really well.

“Catalans have been happy to grind out games so we wanted to challenge them on what they pride themselves on. We controlled the game and did as much as we could.”

Catalans boss Steve McNamara:

"Both teams had to win that game. Salford have done it, we haven't and it's hugely, hugely disappointing for us to perform like that and get that result.

"We had moments in the game, but the big moments, Salford owned them and they didn't have to work too hard to score their points.

"I'm resigned to the fact that we're not playing well enough. We've just got to concentrate on winning the next game and, if we win that, win the next one, but it's clearly completely out of our hands now. "

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

Interchanges: Wright, Shorrocks, Hankinson, Bullock.

Catalans: Mourgue; Davies, Smith, Laguerre, Yaha; Rouge, Fages, Navarette, Da Costa, Bousquet, McMeeken, Sironen, Garcia.

Interchanges: Sims, Dezaria, Tomkins, Wallace.

Referee: Liam Moore.