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Leigh Centurions 8 Salford City Reds 24

27/ 3/2008

SALFORD coach Shaun McRae expected the National League One season to be tough – but not this tough.

The Reds’ League One opener at Leigh was a throwback to the days of winter rugby when bruising battles on mud bath pitches were par for the course.

The conditions at Hilton Park were truly atrocious, especially in the second half. Gale force winds, regular driving rain and a quagmire surface negating the pace and skill of the players involved, who all came off the pitch looking like Swamp Thing.

It became a battle of will – and Salford certainly showed that they have the heart for a fight.

Every Salford player got stuck in as though their lives depended on it.

The forwards were particularly impressive with the likes of Craig Stapleton, Malc Alker, Lee Jewitt and Andrew Brocklehurst grinding out much more hard yards than their Leigh counterparts, which was key to Salford’s victory.

But it took more than muscle to defeat the only side with a 100 per cent record from their Northern Rail Cup group games.

Rookie half backs Richard Myler and Stefan Ratchford produced outstanding grubber kicks to set up tries for Paul White, John Wilshere and Andy Ballard.

And full back Karl Fitzpatrick provided a heroic last line of defence, non more so than when he somehow kept hold of the ball when defending a dangerous grubber despite taking a stray foot to the shoulder and two heavy challenges while lying on the deck.

Salford made good use of having the wind on their backs in the second half having gone into the half-time break level at 2-2.

Stapleton wrapped up the win against a Leigh side who are widely being touted as the Reds’ main title rivals by powering through three would-be tacklers close to the try line in the final minute.

But Salford’s stonewall defence eclipsed anything that the Reds did in attack. The defensive organisation and one-on-one tackling was title winning stuff.

The Reds also deserve acclaim for their ball handling. Considering the conditions, they could have been forgiven for dropping a lot more ball than they did.

But Salford’s discipline was less impressive. They conceded 12 penalties and were caught off-side far too often.

Team: Fitzpatrick; Ballard, Wilshere, Gardner, White; Ratchford, Myler; Nash, Alker, Stapleton, Sibbit, Brocklehurst, Turner. Subs used: Bannister, Jewitt, Littler, Leuluai. Tries: White, Wilshere, Ballard, Stapleton. Goals: Ballard (4). Attendance: 3,708.