With three games remaining in the Super Eights, a resurgent Huddersfield Giants were the visitors to the AJ Bell stadium. Salford had won both of the regular season encounters but the Red Devils' form had been poor, with eight defeats on the spin.
As more player movement was announced in the week - Olsi Krasniqi leaving at the end of the season - the team was desperate to bounce back from last week's home hammering by Wakefield. The two sides had met on seven previous occasions at the AJ Bell Stadium, Salford with three wins and the Giants with four.
The Red Devils opened the scoring three minutes in, with Gareth O'Brien kicking a penalty goal. Moments later, on the back of a Giants' mistake, Kris Welham scored a try; O'Brien adding the goal 8-0.
Huddersfield winger Gene Ormsby came close but super defence kept the line intact, before Tyrone McCarthy grabbed a try from close range to extend the lead. O'Brien added the goal: 14-0 after 15minutes.
Niall Evalds looked odds on to score after a thrilling break but was hauled down short by a brilliant cover tackle from Giants' full back Jordan Rankin. Salford were bossing the game, Lui and O'Brien seemed to be clicking at half back. Manu Vatuvei scored in the corner after super ball movement from the Red Devils, before Kris Welham grabbed his second try on the half hour mark. O'Brien goaled the latter: 24-0.
On the next set of six it was back to back tries. Ben Murdoch Masila combined with Robert Lui to send Niall Evalds racing to the line. The Giants didn't know what had hit them. O'Brien added the goal: 30-0
Jermaine McGillvary scored in the corner right on half time for the visitors, but Danny Brough hit the post with the conversation: 30-4 half time.
Salford started the second half just as ruthless as the first, Manu Vatuvei crashing over in the corner. O'Brien kicked superbly off the touch line: 36-4. The ball movement from the Red Devils was awesome at times; the confidence starting to flow, much to the delight of the home supporters.
When Robert Lui put up a teasing high kick, the Giants came up with the error. Again Salford strung the passes together before Jake Bibby scored a well deserved try. O'Brien missed the kick: 40-4.
Oliver Roberts scored for the Giants after some sloppy play, and Brough added the goal, before Gareth O'Brien kicked a penalty goal on the hour to nudge Salford six scores clear at 42-10.
The Giants were completing at a low rate and another mistake deep in their own half handed Salford the opportunity. Lui broke through and Murdoch Masila rampaged over the line, O'Brien failing to convert: 46-10.
Bibby then saved a certain try with an excellent cover tackle. The youngster was superb all afternoon going forward and solid in defence. Josh Jones burrowed over to bring the fifty points up, and O'Brien converted: 52-10. The final points went the Giants way when hooker Ryan Hincliffe sliced through to dart over. Brough missed the goal. Final score Salford 52 Huddersfield 14.
Ian Watson was very pleased with how the changes to the team had paid off, saluting his young players and the new half back combination. It's a win that's put smiles back on the players' faces.
Salford now face a tough trip to Leeds next Friday, with only two wins there in the last forty years. They can take confidence from today's effort and look to finish the season strongly.
Report by Paul Whiteside, Devil In The Detail.
Photos by Gareth Lyons
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