Salford RLFC defeated fierce rivals Swinton Lions in an end-to-end 20-10 victory in the first derby encounter in over 30 years.
Tries from Salford’s Jack Holmes, captain Brad Dwyer and Sam Bowring were enough to claim Salford’s first away victory this season.
It was a first win under interim head coach Dave Hewitt, as Salford put on a dominant display under the radiant Easter sunshine at Heywood Road.
Salford started strong in the opening moments as seven minutes in, Jack Holmes scored the first try of the game for Salford after he managed to claim a deflected kick and placed the ball on the try-line for Salford’s first points of the game.
In the 14th minute, Brad Dwyer danced through the middle of the field and pinched a hole within the Swinton line before he sailed around the full-back and scored in a moment of brilliance putting Dave Hewitt’s side in firm control of the proceedings.
Swinton tried desperately to claw themselves back but missed a few chances partly due to Salford’s strong try-line defence which managed to force a few handling errors.
As the first half progressed, the derby was being played with great intensity and fatigue was slowly setting in.
Swinton scored their first try of the derby in the 26th minute when winger Ellis Anderson found space on the left edge to touch the ball down for a much-needed try for the Lions.
As the first half was coming to an end, in the 38th minute Shaun Costello was running through the middle of the field before being clipped high from behind leaving referee Carl Hughes no choice to award a penalty.
Salford opted to kick for goal and was successfully kicked by Jack Gatcliffe to give Salford a 14-4 lead at half time.
The second half started in dramatic fashion when in the 43rd minute, after an off-the-ball incident referee Carl Hughes sent both Swinton’s Louie Roberts and Salford hooker Brad Dwyer to the sin bin.
As both teams were forced to play with 12 players for 10 minutes, there was a sense that the rivalry had reignited during the second half, which became a very attritional game like the classics seen many years ago when these two sides met.
In the 56th minute, Swinton had found a way through as Louie Roberts escaped the Salford defence, running 70 yards before passing the ball to full-back Tom Ratchford to score a fast breakaway try for the Lions.
The deficit had been reduced to just four points as Salford held a nervy 14-10 after the conversion by Reece Briers.
Swinton had the momentum heading into the final 20 minutes of the first derby game this century but failed to score when they had chances close to the Salford try-line.
Dave Hewitt’s newly bolstered front row had made a huge impact, both in defence and attack, as the moment of the game came when prop Sam Bowring powered over the tryline under the sticks with a thundering finish to restore Salford’s two-try lead in the 65th minute.
Jack Gatcliffe continued his impressive 100% conversion rate to give Salford a 20-10 lead as they headed into the final stages of the match.
The travelling Salford supporters, which represented a majority of the 2,785 spectators inside Heywood Road, were able to start the celebrations when for the second time this afternoon, Louie Roberts was sent to the sin bin for Swinton in the 77th minute denying any hopes of a Swinton fightback.
In the 79th minute, Swinton’s Samy Kibula was given a straight red card for a dangerous tackle which all but sealed defeat for new Lions head coach Anthony Murray in his first game.
The game finished 20-10 which secured a historic victory for Salford who will claim derby day bragging rights across the city.
Aydin Gorgun
