Salford Red Devils ensured today’s double header against Swinton Lions ended in style, with a dominant 48-12 victory over the neighbours.
This was Paul Rowley’s first game as head coach of Salford and the first time that a handful of players would don the shirt, and it was all smiles come full-time.
Our new number 6, Brodie Croft, was first to score a try in 2022 for Salford, in the 11th minute. The Red Devils broke down the left and with Swinton outnumbered, Croft had no problem in strolling over for the first time in a Salford shirt.
Marc Sneyd converted for Salford – it’s been a while since we read those words.
lifelong Salford fan Ryan Brierley went over down the left a few minutes later, for his first try in a Salford shirt.
Two minutes later, Swinton were exposed down the left again and it was Man of the Match Deon Cross who scored.
2021’s Super League top try scorer, Ken Sio, obviously had to get in on the action and he did so in the 28th minute, crashing over down the right after a neat pass from the skipper Elijah Taylor opened up a path for our number 2.
Andy Ackers pulled out his trademark try from dummy half, in the 34th minute scooting over to the right of the sticks following a show and go that dumbfounded the Swinton defence.
Halftime: Salford Red Devils 26-0 Swinton Lions
Swinton got themselves on the scoreboard in the 56th minute through Mike Butt, who grounded the ball in the right corner for the first try of the second forty.
Matt Costello went over down the left on the hour mark, with Swinton’s Will Hope responding with a try of his own four minutes later.
Shane Wright picked up his first try for Salford two minutes later, and then sets Ackers up for his second try of the afternoon minutes later.
Academy product Jack Stevens came on in the 70th minute for Brodie Croft, a minute before Rhys Williams darted over to the left of the sticks to extend Salford’s lead.
Fulltime: Salford Red Devils 48-12 Swinton Lions
Salford Red Devils: Brierley, Williams, Cross, Costello, Sio, Croft, Sneyd, Vuniyayawa, Ackers, Akauola, Wright, Taylor (C), Luckley, Burke, Atkin, Johnson, Escare, Gerrard, Stevens.
Swinton Lions: Abram, Butt, Roberts, Lloyd, Lepori, Else, Hansen, Hope, Waterworth, Hatton, Gregson, Cox, Meadows, Jones, Spencer, Charnock, Brown, Case, Hayes, Brogan, Brickhill, Kenga.
Image credit: Steve McCormick
