Inspired Myler helps Salford give Giants a reality check

Huddersfield 4 Salford 24

Salford tackled their hearts out and seized their chances for a memorable victory to further underline their Super League credentials. The City Reds were excellent value for the fourth win of their campaign since returning to the top flight, out-playing opponents with play-off pretensions.

Salford's 18-year-old scrum-half, Richie Myler, named this week in England's elite training squad, scored the killer try, showing he has pace as well as guile by going 85 metres after an interception from Danny Kirmond and winning the race with David Hodgson convincingly enough to celebrate before reaching the try line.

"He's always been a pretty confident kid," said his coach, Shaun McRae. "He fully deserves to be in the squad and it would be tremendous for him if he made the Test team against France." Myler formed a potent partnership with another young English half-back, Stefan Ratchford.

The Huddersfield coach, Nathan Brown, admitted that the pair had decisively outplayed his half-backs and that his absent captain, Brett Hodgson, had been badly missed.

"But that is not an excuse," he said. Certainly not for the way Kevin Brown failed to find touch with an early penalty, to surrender the possession from which John Wilshere scored the opening try from Myler's pass.

The Giants showed some encouraging signs with Martin Aspinwall's acrobatic pass for Luke Robinson's try, but Mark Henry made a crucial tackle to prevent Paul Whatuira from scoring a second Huddersfield try.

Salford soon went to the other end for Darrell Goulding to score from Jordan Turner's pass.

Salford barely made a mistake in the second half and the result was that they slowly ground down their opposition. Willie Talau's kick forced a drop-out from which they gained an offside penalty which Wilshere put over and then the stage was set for Myler's long-distance effort. Henry then touched down to ensure there was no fightback.

"What we showed was control," said McRae. "We're a grinding sort of team and, when we do that, we win games."

For Brown, the result was a reality check that may yet do his side some long-term good. "Players look at the table and it tells lies," he said. "You think you're going better than you are."

Huddersfield: Cudjoe; Aspinwall, Lolesi, Whatuira, Hodgson; Brown, Robinson; Mason, Moore, Korkidas, Wild, Patrick, Lunt. Substitutes used: Crabtree, Jackson, Kirmond, Faiumu.

Salford: Wilshere; Goulding, Turner, Talau, Henry; Ratchford, Myler; Cashmere, Alker, Parker, Sibbit, Adamson, Swain. Substitutes used: Jewitt, Leuluai, Paul, Littler.

Referee: T Alibert (France)