A late try from Jordan James helped Salford to a 28-22 win over Widnes to climb off the foot of the table.

Widnes scrum-half, Joe Mellor had already recorded a hatrick but it ultimately led to nothing after James powered over two minutes from time.

Prop forward, Steve Pickersgill thought he had opened the scoring with 20 minutes played when he scooted over from dummy half but video referee, Phil Bentham ruled that the Salford defence had done enough to hold him up.

It looked when Ryan McGoldrick was penalised for a ball steal just ten metres from his own line that Widnes would have a great opportunity to break the scoreline.

Instead Jon Clarke’s sweeping pass out to the right flank found only opposition centre, Lee Gaskell who turned on the pace for a length of the field interception.

Then five minutes before the break, interchange, Jordan James powered his way over from short range on the back of a McGoldrick pass.
But Widnes hit back just before the break, Joe Mellor latching onto a perfectly weighted Kevin Brown grubber kick into the in-goal.

Mellor then scored a second, toeing along a stray Rhys Hanbury ball past two Salford defenders before pouncing just shy of the corner flag. Jack Owen failed to lock the scores with his second shot at goal.

Jodie Broughton’s 80 metre effort to the try line was then disregarded by video referee, Phil Bentham who ruled that Mellor had been prevented from making a tackle in back play.

Salford were able to extend their advantage with 17 minutes to play when captain, Martin Gleeson went in himself after an attack down the right flank.

Alas came Mellor who threw a spending dummy before skipping through his opponents to the try line to tie the score at 16-16 after Owen’s second conversion.

However young French half-back, Theo Fages re-instated Salford’s lead just ten minutes from time, Marc Sneyd’s goal making it a six point ball game.

Five minutes later, Widnes stand-off, Kevin Brown burrowed over from the play the ball and it appeared as if the points would be shared.

Marc Sneyd’s late attempt at a drop-goal was charged down, and when referee,
Theirry Alibert wiped the tackle count down, it seemed certain the Reds would go on to win.

James made another powerful charge, breaking the opposition defence before reaching out an arm to ground the ball for the win.


Salford: Sneyd, Broughton, Gleeson, Gaskell, Gibson, McGoldrick, Fages, Griffin, Godwin, Walne, Ashurst, Dixon, Wild.
Replacements: Foran, Mauro, James, Emmit.

T: James 2, Gaskell, Gleeson, Fages
G: Sneyd 4/5

Widnes: Hanbury, Flynn, Marsh, Phelps, Owens, Brown, Mellor, Pickersgill, Clarke, O’Carroll, Dean, Allen, Leuluai.
Replacements: Joseph, Kavanagh, White, Winterstein.

T: Mellor 3, Brown
G: Owens 3/4


Referee: Thierry Alibert
Video Referee: Phil Bentham