Betfred Super League Round 19
Salford Red Devils 22-24 Leigh Leopards
Leigh Leopards earned their first victory on Salford soil for nearly 40 years as they staged a stirring comeback from 22-10 down to stay second in Betfred Super League.
The Leopards trail leaders Catalans Dragons by just two points with eight rounds to go- and the Dragons are their first opponents back at the Leopards Den in mid-August when the pitch renovations are completed.
Ben Reynolds was the Leopards’ match-winning hero, showing calmness and composure to post a 42-metre penalty goal in the closing stages and send the travelling fans into joyous scenes of celebration.
Reynolds capped the Leopards’ comeback after tries by Lachlan Lam and Zak Hardaker had hauled the visitors back into an exciting contest.
Leopards head coach Adrian Lam celebrated in front of the Leopards fans at the end. He said: “I’m ecstatic and really, really proud of them. There have been some close games against Salford already this season and we knew it would go down to the last 10 minutes. In both those games we had been in positions to win but didn’t make it. Today we iced it.”
Lam revealed he had to make late changes to his side after Edwin Ipape pulled out through illness. With Aaron Smith also indisposed by illness, Joe Mellor came in as starting hooker and had an outstanding game.
“We had to start Joe Mellor at hooker and I’m very proud of the way he played,” Lam said. “Late disruptions mess up your momentum but with the Challenge Cup semi-final in six days it wasn’t worth risking Edwin.
“We sit outright second on the ladder and are 80 minutes away from Wembley. We had 2,000 fans backing us today, so I’m delighted for them.”
Salford held an early lead through Ken Sio’s try before Ed Chamberlain and Ricky Leutele responded with Leopards tries to earn their side a 10-6 lead. But Salford hit a streak of red-hot form either side of the interval and tries by King Vuniyayawa, Andy Ackers and ex-Leigh forward Ben Hellewell saw them take a seemingly commanding lead- only for the Leopards to roar back.
Leigh’s last win at Salford was a 38-6 success at the old Willows ground in September 1983 when Des Drummond, Steve Donlan, John Henderson, Derek Pyke and Gary Ainsworth scored tries and John Woods kicked nine goals.
The Leopards now turn their attentions towards ending another long wait. Next Saturday they face St Helens in the Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final at Warrington, their first last four appearance in the competition for 36 years, looking to reach Wembley for the first time in 52 years.
They then end the month with a Battle of the Borough visit to Wigan, currently third in the Betfred Super League two points behind the Leopards.
Red Devils: Brierley; Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess; Croft, Sneyd; Ormondroyd, Ackers, Dupree, Stone, Addy, Atkin. Bench: Vuniyayawa, Sidlow, Bourouh, Hellewell.
Scorers: Tries: Sio, Vuniyayawa, Ackers, Hellewell; Goals: Sneyd (3).
Leopards: O’Brien; Briscoe, Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley; Reynolds, Lam; Amone, Mellor, Mulhern, Chamberlain, Hughes, Asiata. Bench: Nakubuwai, Holmes, Wilde, Davis.
Scorers: Tries: Chamberlain, Leutele, Lam, Hardaker; Goals: Reynolds (4).
Referee: Ben Thaler. Attendance: 6,892.