Salford 36-20 Huddersfield: Red Devils climb to second

Match stats: Salford 36-20 Huddersfield

Salford tries: Sa'u (22,49), Lui (25), Welham (28), O'Brien (46), Johnson (53), Murdoch-Masila (57)
Salford goals: Dobson (22,25,28,53) 

Huddersfield tries: Cudjoe (6), Murphy (35), Leeming (67), McIntosh (78)
Huddersfield goals: Brough (6,78) 

Match report 

Junior Sa'u scored two tries as Salford jumped to second in Super League with a 36-20 victory over Huddersfield.

Ian Watson's side had lost their last three league games but they recovered from going behind in the sixth minute to score three tries in seven minutes during a devastating first-half spell.

Half-backs Robert Lui and Michael Dobson were in commanding form for Salford, with Dobson kicking two 40-20s in the second half which led to tries.

Huddersfield came into the game undefeated in their last four having drawn one and won three and they took the early lead at the AJ Bell Stadium when Danny Brough's pass sent centre Leroy Cudjoe in at the corner and Brough added the conversion.

But Salford, who had been disrupted by early injuries to Logan Tomkins and Ben Murdoch-Masila, turned the game on its head with three tries in seven minutes. Centre Sa'u scored in the 22nd minute after good link play between Lui and Josh Jones and Dobson's conversion levelled the scores at 6-6.

Then Lui, who this week signed a new long-term contract with the Red Devils, showed tremendous strength to evade one defender and hand off another on a determined run to the try-line. Dobson's conversion made it 12-6.

With 12 minutes of the half remaining, Salford produced the try of the match as Murdoch-Masila burst clear before sending Greg Johnson away and he in turn found Kris Welham in support to score. Dobson again added the extras.

Huddersfield, having been forced to defend for so long, earned some respite thanks to a 40-20 kick from Brough. After going close to scoring in the right corner, the Giants went in at the other and appropriately it was Brough who created the try for winger Aaron Murphy with a looping pass.

Brough could not add the goal and though Dobson missed what appeared a routine penalty moments before half-time, Salford led 18-10 at the interval.

Six minutes into the second half, Salford scored their fourth try when full-back Gareth O'Brien bounced off an attempted tackle to cut infield and score from 10 metres. Dobson again failed to kick the simple-looking conversion.

Salford, who beat the Giants 30-20 in the corresponding fixture in February, continued to control things and a 40-20 kick from Dobson in the 49th minute gave them a perfect position from which to attack. A couple of plays later and Jones set up Sa'u for his second try. Dobson's rotten luck with conversions continued as this time his effort hit the top of the upright and bounced away.

He did not have long to wait for another go, however, as Salford scored again in the 54th minute. The busy Lui created the space for Johnson and he had a walk-in to score a try which Dobson goaled.

Another 40-20 from Dobson drove Salford forward in the 56th minute and they again made the most of the opportunity with a try from Murdoch-Masila, who reached over to score from close range.

Huddersfield scored twice in the final 13 minutes though the game was well beyond them. Kruise Leeming leapt highest to take Dean Gaskell's crossfield kick and winger Darnell McIntosh produced an acrobatic finish to score in the corner, Brough converting the latter score. 

Post-match reaction 

Ian Watson felt Salford's 36-20 victory over in-form Huddersfield proved the Red Devils remain contenders for the Super League title. 

"It was a big one for us to win after three losses, especially after the results elsewhere this weekend fell for us," said Salford head coach Watson.

"A true team bounces back from that kind of defeat at Saints.

"They are a really good group - I can't say that enough - and they have got that mentality where they all dig in for each other and we saw that again today.

"We worked really hard for each other and our eagerness shone through. They want to work hard and they want to be successful.

"Our game management was really good and that's important in the big games.

"There have been a few negatives from outside the club and some have been saying that we'd run our race. But we had to be confident in that what we had been doing all year was good enough and we keep taking that forward.

"I thought we played really well. It's a big game against Leeds for us now next week." 

Giants head coach Rick Stone said: "Salford were the better team, no doubt. Salford managed the game really well and we didn't.

"The first 20 minutes were a bit of a contest but we let them off the hook a bit with a lack of polish with our last plays.

"But Salford were pretty consistent right throughout the game. Their defence was good and they threw plenty at us in attack with a couple of 40-20s from Dobbo (Michael Dobson) which obviously helped. Salford kept their foot on the throat as good as anyone we've played in the last couple of weeks.

"I don't think our offence was our major issue today, it was our defence. As we became more tired we became more vulnerable and they took advantage of us.

"We weren't as good as we needed to be and are extremely disappointed in how we managed ourselves today. But full credit to Salford, they were a fair bit better than us today."