Match Report – Salford Red Devils vs Swinton Lions

15 January 2022

SALFORD RED DEVILS 48

SWINTON LIONS 12

IAN RIGG A J Bell Stadium Saturday

The Red Devils came out on top as the two local rivals gave the crowd a good game on a freezing cold afternoon. Paul Rowley had quite a few injury worries in the build up to the game but fielded a strong side which worked well together and provided some good rugby and slick moves. Lions coach Allan Coleman fielded all but three of his squad and they all had good minutes on the field.

The Lions started very strongly and asked quite a few questions of the Red Devils defence and Lewis Hatton and Mitch Cox both went close before the home side took the lead on twelve minutes when a good move down the left was finished off when Brodie Croft scored near the corner and his half back partner Marc Sneyd added the conversion from the touchline. Three minutes later they were in again when some slick passing sent Ryan Brierley away to score in the corner, but this went unconverted, and it got even better a couple of minutes later when the prolific Deon Cross went over for the third try but again no conversion for this one. 

Sam Luckley and Jack Hansen then had good chances for there respective sides but they came to nothing before Ken Sio wasn’t going to be stopped on a run to the line knocking off four defenders on his way scoring in the right corner and Sneyd converted from the touchline and with five minutes left of the half former Lion Andy Ackers sold a nice dummy to score under the posts and this was again converted by Sneyd giving his side a nice lead at the break.

As in the first half the Lions made a great start to the second half forcing two goal line dropouts in the space of a couple of minutes and on fifty-two minutes substitute Ben Heyes almost set up a try for Mike Butt when he put in a nice kick towards the corner, but the bounce of the ball evaded the chasing winger and ran dead. The Lions opened their account on fifty-five minutes when a hanging kick towards the Red Devils left side defence was not dealt with and Butt raced onto the loose ball to score near the corner and this was converted by Jack Hansen. Matt Costello hit back for the Red Devils virtually from the restart when he raced away down the right to score and this was converted by Chris Atkin. 

Will Hope added the Lions second try just after the hour when some good passing saw him score between the sticks and this was converted again by Hansen and the noisy Lions fans were making themselves known getting behind their side. Again the Red Devils hit back quickly and a couple of minutes late Shane Wright exploited a large overlap on the left to score but the conversion from Atkin sailed wide and missed. Ackers added his second of the afternoon with fourteen minutes left and Atkin added the conversion to this one and five minutes later Rhys Williams finished off the scoring for the afternoon having been sent clear by Cross and Atkin converted to complete the impressive victory.

GAMESTAR: Brodie Croft – The new halfback was in the engine room for many of the tries.

GAMEBREAKER: Three Red Devils tries in a six-minute period gave them a good platform.

MATCHFACTS

RED DEVILS

  1 Ryan Brierley

22 Rhys Williams

23 Deon Cross

24 Matt Costello

  2 Ken Sio

  6 Brodie Croft

  7 Marc Sneyd

15 King Vuniyayawa

  9 Andy Ackers

  8 Sita Akauola

11 Shane Wright

13 Elijah Taylor

26 Sam Luckley

Subs (all used)

25 Morgan Escare

18 Chris Atkin

30 Jack Stevens

10 Greg Burke

21 Josh Johnson

29 Alex Gerrard

Tries: Croft (12), Brierley (15), Cross (18), Sio (29), 

Ackers (35,66), Costello (58), Wright (64), Williams (71)

Goals: Sneyd 3/5 , Atkin 3/4

LIONS

  1 Dan Abram

  2 Mike Butt

  4 Max Roberts

11 Rhodri Lloyd

  5 Richard Lepori

  6 Lewis Else

  7 Jack Hansen

  8 Will Hope

  9 Luke Waterworth

10 Lewis Hatton

13 Nick Gregson

12 Mitch Cox

20 Deane Meadows

Subs (all used)

18 Paddy Jones

17 Jack Spencer

25 Lewis Charnock

24 Jordan Brown

23 Jordan Case

22 Ben Heyes

16 Louis Brogan

15 Billy Brickhill

19 Jose Kenga

Tries: Butt (55), Hope (62)

Goals: Hansen 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0,10-0,14-0,20-0,26-0,26-6,32-6, 32-12,36-12,42-12,48-12.

Penalty count: 2-6 Half-time:  26-0

Referee: James Jones Attendance:  1688