Salford Red Devils grounded out a hard-fought victory away to Huddersfield Giants tonight with a Chris Atkin drop-goal deciding it for Marshall’s men.
Taking the lead early on through Andy Ackers, Salford went into the interval ahead by six points and despite the hosts getting themselves on the scoreboard in the second forty, Marshall’s men saw the victory out with determination.
Salford’s number 9 gave the travelling Reds supporters something to cheer about after 11 minutes, scurrying under the sticks from dummy half to put his side ahead.
Both teams had promising spells following Ackers’ try and Huddersfield picked up their first points of the evening in the 34th minute through an Aidan Sezer penalty goal after James Greenwood saw red for a high tackle.
However, three minutes later, Salford cancelled those two points out with a successful penalty goal of their own. Dec Patton added the extras shortly before halftime.
Halftime: Huddersfield Giants 2-8 Salford Red Devils
The second forty was a war of attrition as both sides piled on the pressure.
Huddersfield finally found the try-line in the 48th minute and it was Joe Wardle, sliding over to the left of the sticks, who was the try scorer.
Despite losing captain Lee Mossop in the warm up through an achilles injury, Salford were gritty and focused and held off a number of Huddersfield attacks with a handful of try-saving tackles on their own line.
Chris Atkin put Marshall’s men ahead with 15 minutes to go with a finely executed drop-goal in front of the Salford fans, who had not stopped singing for the entire of the game.
The last ten minutes saw Salford’s quality defence force a handful of errors from the hosts and Aiden Sezer’s missed drop-goal attempt meant Salford left West Yorkshire with a much-needed two points.
Fulltime: Huddersfield Giants 8-9 Salford Red Devils
Huddersfield Giants: Golding, McGillvary, Wardle, Leutele, Cudjoe, Gaskell, Cogger, Yates, O’Brien, Wilson, Edwards, Greenwood, Jones, Sezer, Lawrence, Wardle, Trout.
Huddersfield tries: Joe Wardle
Huddersfield goals: Sezer
Salford Red Devils: Sarginson, Sio, Burgess, Davies, Williams, Patton, Atkin, Mossop, Ackers, Wells, Livett, Greenwood, Taylor, Ikahihifo, Burke, Johnson, Roberts.
Salford tries: Ackers
Salford goals: Patton (2/2)
Salford penalty-goal: Atkin
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Image credit: Steve McCormick
