Leeds Rhinos 68 Salford Red Devils 12 Match Report
To say that the team turned out by the Salford Red Devils in last Friday’s curtain raiser to the main event was somewhat under strength, would be a considerable understatement, with precious few of the original squad at the start of the season, remaining available for selection.
This is hardly surprising when you consider that the likes of Nathan Connell, Kai Morgan, Charlie Glover, and Sam Hill, were the recognised stars around whom the coaching staff had planned on building their whole team, but who have been tying down places in the first team, for, by far, the greatest part of the season.
The solution, therefore, has been to promote the most talented of the Academy side, alongside a number of new faces, to fill in the gaps further created by injuries, suspension, and recently players moving on to join Championship sides ahead of next season.
Even this, however, creates problems of their own, with their dual roles causing competing demands in terms of training sessions, not to mention their comparative youth, inexperience, lack of size, strength, and general physical development, whilst the rest of the team is comprised of good, local amateurs.
Consequently, in comparison to the Leeds formation, selected from the most talented players available in West Yorkshire, the Salford side was greatly lacking in balance and consistency, of talent, across the field.
What they did not lack, and indeed were able to match their opponents in, were their commitment, enthusiasm, competitiveness, and strength of character, and a combination of all these attributes was enough to force the Rhinos into having to play to the peak of their form, in order to overcome their opponents.
Indeed, the first twenty minutes of each half were highly competitive, with Leeds being limited to three, and then to two scores in those periods, respectively, as the Red Devils went set for set with them, for significant spells.
Most notable was the considerable number of what are now frequently referred to as ‘little wins’, and these were there in abundance for the visitors, in both attack and defence, the most significant of which were the two tries they scored.
The first came in the twentieth minute, as a result of fullback, Rafa Van Osselaer’s climbing high above the defending opposition to take Murray’s end-of-set kick in the air, before handing on to Rhyley Hyde, who put second rower, Lucas Coan, through to ground under the posts, from where Hyde was able to land his conversion to take the score to 18-6.
This had not been the first time that a Salford player had out-jumped the Rhinos, with Sam Hill taking an eleventh minute Leeds’s end-of-set kick, despite strong challenges all around him, and he later, made a lengthy break having retrieved the ball, taking the team into the Leeds twenty area.
For Coan, however, scoring was his last act of the game as he had earlier taken a knock to his shoulder, and he was forced to retire at this point, to be followed shortly afterwards by hooker, Fin Yates, who failed his HIA, thus causing further disruption to the squad by reshuffling of players to cover those positions.
A repeat set close to the Rhinos’ line, on 52 mins, was exploited to the full by Hyde – now operating as makeshift hooker – with his shrewd pass putting Charlie McCurrie through for Salford’s second try to the left of the posts, and converted, once again, by Hyde, taking the score to 48-12.
They might well have had an earlier try, on 26 mins, when Van Osselaer had cut through to cross the line, but the referee ruled that the loose ball he had collected had been caused by a head tackle, and duly awarded a penalty to the home side.
Even on defence, however, there were occasions when it was the Reds who came out on top, the most notable being their 42nd minute denying of a Leeds try through resolute tackling, which forced the would-be scorer to be penalised for an attempted double movement, and there were a number of other occasions when they were able to prevent other possible tries.
Most importantly, coach, Stuart Wilkinson, was really pleased with the effort of all the players, but especially of those from the Academy who had matched the talent of their opposite Leeds opponents, throughout the game.
“It is very important that we make our judgements in the context of the point at which the players are at, at this moment.
“All of our players turn up determined to play to their best; they are fully motivated, shirk nothing and have never allowed themselves to be demoralised by anything.
“We have some extremely talented youngsters from the Academy – Lucas Coan, Rhyley Hyde, Fin Yates, and Jimmy Shields – who make up for their lack of experience with their skill, dedication and enthusiasm.
“Raffa van Osselaer had his best game for us this season. He, it was, who, under pressure, took a Leeds kick, one-handed close to his own line, spun around thereby wrong-footing the chasers, and made a clearing fifteen metre run upfield, while our longer serving captain, Charlie McCurrie, adds that extra little bit of experience he has, to the mix.
“At this point in time, it would be great if we could muster a little more support for them, because anyone coming to watch would be impressed by their pride and passion, their great attitude, and the way they keep their spirits up celebrating small wins.
“As these young players gain, with time, the necessary requisites of age, physique, and experience they are going to be very good indeed for Salford.”
SALFORD
Van Osselaer, Jenkinson, Clarke, Braddish, S Hill, Hyde, Murray, Bullock, Yates, Bailey, Coan, McCurrie, Shields,
Interchanges:
Lagar, Pye, Lawton, Holland
18th Man: J Walker
