Defeat in Salford for the Tigers

The Tigers lost 14-6 at the hands of the Salford Red Devils over at the AJ Bell stadium.  

The Tigers got within range early on and made it count. A high shot on Mellor from Costello saw the Fords given a penalty which Miller kicked to the Red Devils 20m. The Tigers swung left to right, and a brilliant offload from Edwards found Eden unmarked on the wing and he went in to open the scoring inside 4 minutes. 

Cas had some defending to do shortly after though. A kick on the last from Sneyd bounced back into Salford hands after a ricochet that was deemed played at. However, the back-to-back sets didn’t phase them and they kept the hosts out. 

Mellor came close halfway through the first 40. His kick on the last came back off a Salford man and into the hands of the Tigers and earned them a fresh set of tackles. On the last tackle just 5 metres out, Mellor had the ball in hand and looked to crash over, but to no avail. 

The hosts thought they’d scored on 24 minutes. Sneyd attempted to kick it to himself in goal, but he knocked on. The referee sent it up for video referral as ‘no try’, and that was given. 

Salford looked to score down their left 2 minutes later. Sneyd found Burgess out wide and as he tried to dive for the line, Niall Evalds produced a try saver for the ages and dislodged the ball in the act of grounding. An unbelievable tackle from the Tigers’ number 1. 

Salford did find a way to level the game with 4 minutes left of the half. A Watkins offload to Brierley sent him running down the right, with just Evalds to beat. He kicked towards the posts and Croft gathered to score, allowing Sneyd a simple kick to level the scores. 

Eden looked to respond immediately. Smith ripped the ball back 20m from the Salford line, and when the Tigers looked towards Eden, his acrobatic attempt was good, barring his left foot being on the line and the try was not given. 

A converted try apiece in the first half and the scores were level at the break after the Tigers conceded late in the half, undeservedly so after some tremendous defending to keep Salford at bay. 

Cas were put under pressure once the contest resumed. A kick from Sneyd troubled Evalds and he knocked on inside his own 10m. The defence from the Fords again called upon and they kept them out once again. A mix up from Eden saw a pass go to ground, and the hosts put the ball down over the line. The video referee again said no, and a Salford knock on was given. 

10 minutes into the second half, Evalds hit a flat pass from McShane on the last just 2 metres out and looked to ground the ball. The video referee was called upon again and the try not given deeming there to be no downward pressure. Agonising for the Fords. 

Salford got the opening points on the board. A six-again given the way of the hosts gave them a fresh set inside 10m and that is where they struck. Sneyd from dummy half found Wright who crashed over in front of the sticks; Sneyd’s conversion making it 12-6 with 20 minutes to go. 

The Tigers looked for a response. An offload from Faraimo sent Widdop away on the right edge, with Broadbent in support. Broady cut inside but was brought down just short. On the final play, Milner chased his own kick and got there, but was held up over the line and unable to ground. 

Salford added two more points to their tally with 10 minutes left. A hit off the ball from Milner and the referee awarded a penalty. Sneyd on kick duty for Salford slotted the goal to give them an 8-point lead. 

Defeat on the road for the Tigers, who lose out at the Salford Stadium despite a spirited performance. 

FULL TIME: Salford Red Devils 14-6 Castleford Tigers 

Salford Red Devils: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Costello, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Dupree, Ackers, Vuniyayawa, Watkins, Stone, Partington 

Interchanges: Ormondroyd, Atkin, Addy, Wright 

18th man: Ellis Longstaff 

Castleford Tigers: Evalds, Faraimo, Broadbent, Turner, Eden, Widdop, Miller, Lawler, McShane, Massey, Edwards, Mellor, Milner 

Interchanges: Griffin, Smith, Hall, Johnson 

18th Man: Fonua 

Scores:  

Salford Red Devils:  

Tries: Croft, Wright 

Goals: Sneyd 2/2 

Penalty Goals: Sneyd 1/1 

Castleford Tigers: 

Tries: Eden 

Goals: Widdop 1/1