Salford press for promotion

Widnes 20 Salford 32

Salford moved a step closer to the Super League status to which they aspire by trading punches throughout an absorbing first half at Widnes yesterday before landing the knock-out in the second.

Each side took the lead three times during that see-sawing first 40 minutes, but two quick tries - one odd one and one reeking of class - after the break put Salford on the way to victory.

Widnes are woefully depleted from their glory days, but they are still capable of rousing themselves on occasion. If anything, they were the better side in the first half yesterday, taking an early lead through a Christian Tyrer penalty and responding to a brilliant first Salford try from Nathan McAvoy with one of their own through Gary Broadbent.

Salford hit the front again when Mark Lee's kick bounced badly to leave Broadbent stranded and Darren Rogers followed up to touch down. Lee Hansen hit back again for Widnes, charging on to Tyrer's inside pass to go over, but, immediately before half-time, Salford seized an advantage they were never to lose, Steve Blakeley's quick footwork opening the way for Sam Panapa, the news of whose departure for the Auckland Warriors at the end of the season has cast the only shadow on Salford's week.

The match was still finely balanced, but its pivotal moment came nine minutes into the second half when Salford applied a mighty heave to Widnes's scrum feed. The ball skewed out of the side of the flimsy structure that is a rugby league scrum, for Lokeni Savelio to pick up and, with the referee John Connolly waving play on, Lee to claim the crucial try.

Within three minutes, the two outstanding centres who represent perhaps the strongest department in this Salford team combined again, Scott Naylor's little pass sending McAvoy striding away majestically.

Widnes still had one flurry of defiance left in them, during which Darren Wright had a try disallowed, Tony Thorniley was only stopped by a finger- tip tackle and, eventually, Tyrer went through to score.

But with five minutes remaining, Salford pulled away again, Steve Hampson exploiting an overlap on the right and securing two more points towards his side's promotion target.

Widnes: Broadbent; Thorniley, Petchey, Wright, Preston; Tyrer, Waring; Makin, Gartlands, Hansen, Collier, P Myler, Cooper. Substitutes used: Ruane, Cassidy, D Myler, Cunningham.

Salford: Hampson; Sini, Naylor, McAvoy, Rogers; Blakeley, Lee; Blease, Edwards, Eccles, Forber, Savelio, Panapa. Substitutes used: Martin, Webster, Watson. Substitute not used: Coussons.

Referee: J Connolly (Wigan).