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Leigh 8 Salford 24

Neil Barker
21/ 3/2008

SALFORD City Reds plan to be like bats out of hell from National League One this season, so it was no surprise to find meatloaf on the pre-match menu.

Shaun McRae's men also scoffed wine gums and malt bread to boost their energy levels ahead of last night's opening League clash at Leigh, which the Reds won 24-8.

Despite relegation from Super League, Salford made the short journey to Hilton Park in a coach normally used to transport the Premier football stars of Arsenal.

Some players even drank bottles of "Gunner's water". Packman Andrew Brocklehurst quipped: "I bet Cesc Fabregas drinks this!"

Accompanied to the sound of The Jam's smash hit That's Entertainment, Reds set about their own chart-topping business.

Players were totally focused, their minds fully fixed on the job in hand. Joker in the pack Karl Fitzpatrick sat alone as the main course was about to be served.

Wintergreen

Skipper Mal Alker had been handing out the meatloaf and the malt bread but there was an empty seat on the bus.

Chairman John Wilkinson had to stay at home and watch the game on TV after being ruled out with a chest infection.

Vice-chairman Howard Clague said JW was gutted. He relayed the starting line-up via mobile phone. Howard missed the chairman's company as they normally spend a good hour on the team bus ahead of the game discussing topical issues.

Coach McRae met his players at the ground, having travelled from his father-in-law's funeral in St Helens earlier that day.

Andy Haigh, the club's conditioner hoped for a winning start as the bus manoeuvred the terraced streets backing on to Hilton Park. He reminisced about coming here as a 17-year-old rookie with Saints expecting winning pay but the hosts spoiled the party.

Haigh, armed with a reservoir of water, was first into the cramped visitors' dressing rooms - football director Steve Simms says these haven't changed since he coached at Leigh back in 1992.

Instructions

With wintergreen in the air and McRae issuing last-minute instructions, pinpointing the danger man, Reds were ready to be the visiting gladiators.

What greeted them was mud and monsoon-like rain but they started their League campaign with purpose, posting a deserved win. The meatloaf had obviously kicked in!

Four second-half tries did the trick after it was 2-2 at the break - the best and last went to Craig Stapleton, the Aussie who played for Leigh in Super League and had seen the mud many times before.

Paul White, John Wilshere and Andy Ballard grabbed the other tries with Lee Marsh replying for the hosts.

Coach McRae welcomed the win on a night when conditions were a great leveller. Mistakes were to be expected but they annoyed the Aussie, who oversaw proceedings from the back row of the stand.

He was in constant radio contact with a dug-out that was under a foot of water come early evening.

By the end of the night, malt whisky to beat off the threat of hypothermia, as opposed to meat and malt loaf, may have been a wiser option but the Reds lads showered and set their sights on the next item on the menu, Easter Monday's clash with Featherstone.

What is your verdict on the opener? Have your say.

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