8 Jul 2023

Salford Reserves 22 Rhinos Reserves 36

By Guy Harvey

Tony Smith and his Reserves side made the journey across the Pennines to Salford with a strong squad and plenty of optimism looking to get back to winning ways after suffering their first defeat of the season last time out against Huddersfield. But the Rhinos certainly wouldn’t have it all their own way even though the away side would be first on the score sheet.

After only four minutes had elapsed Leeds scored in the shape of front row forward Freddie Brennan-Jones diving over under the posts which will probably be one of the easiest tries he will ever score, thanks to great footwork from the returning Joe Gibbons using fantastic footwork to evade the Salford defence ten metres out and with just the full back to beat offloaded to the waiting Brennan-Jones. Leeds was defending well forcing errors early on from the home side kicking out on the full and knock-ons and shortly after Leeds would score again this time down their left flank through Dylan Proud after the Leeds using the full width of the Salford pitch and quick hands from half Kai Morgan gave plenty of room for Proud to dive in at the corner.

Salford would utilise on their pressure next however and combining well through their halves creating an overlap out wide to find Scott Egan to score making it 10-6 too Leeds. However, minutes later Bailey Aldridge would notice a tired defence ahead of him and scoot out of dummy half and make a break from halfway only to be tackled just shy of the try line, he was well backed up however with Kai Morgan filling in it a hooker to find Leon Ruan to crash over from close range making it 6-14 and a little more comfortable for the away side. Bailey wouldn’t be too disappointed however minutes later he would switch roles and be the support act after Leeds broke through on the right flank leaving the full back to beat and Aldridge took the pass to run in for the try and make it 6-20 following Kai Morgan’s conversion. The Rhinos weren’t finished there though with half time approaching and fresh legs on the field in Will Shaw finding space from dummy half to break from halfway but with the full back to beat Mackenzie Turner was in support to take the pass and score the try sending Leeds in with a 26-6 half time lead.

Leeds wasted no time in getting back on the scoreboard only two minutes in to the second half Turner would double his tally after the away side were almost caught in possession on the last tackle but a last second offload to Riley Lumb who had space ahead of him to race through but just as he was heading for the try Salford's full back came across for the tackle but fortunately Turner was in support to score in the corner. Leeds could then have been accused of maybe taking the foot of the accelerator as Salford began to get a foothold in the game and eventually this showed as they scored through hooker Jacob Lee diving over from dummy half and the home side certainly had their tales up.

Errors began to creep into the game in Salford's favour however and now midway through the second half they would score again after what had looked like the Leeds defence had held up the Salford attacker in the try area, but the ball somehow came free, and Salford responded quickest to get the try and make the score 18-30 and the home side very much back in the game. Salford could sense the possibility of a win and minutes later scored again in the shape of John Hutchings crashing over from short distance to the try line and the Leeds though looking tired and the score now 22-30. Salford would then give away a couple of easy penalties allowing the Rhinos great field position and a full set of six tackles, but they wouldn’t need the full set and with the ball in Riley Lumb’s hands and great footwork from the full back to squeeze through and score the try to seal the win following Kai Morgan’s kick making it 36-22 to the Rhinos.

The Reserves are next in action on the road again up in Newcastle against the Thunder on Friday 21^st July with kick off scheduled for 19:30.

Salford Reserves