Leigh Leopards are one win away from a first appearance in the Super League Grand Final after stunning Salford Red Devils to advance to next weekend’s semi-finals. The Red Devils have only lost to one side, reigning champions Wigan Warriors, at home all season long, and a club-record crowd were here for a thrilling opening tie in this year’s playoffs. However, the Leopards emerged victorious courtesy of a magnificent second-half performance.
Leigh were as low as ninth in the table in July, but their 11th win in 13 games means they are now just one victory away from Old Trafford. They will face either Wigan Warriors or Hull KR next weekend, with their opponents to be determined by Saturday’s other eliminator between Warrington and St Helens. The intensity from both sides inside the opening quarter was certainly evident.
Defensive prowess was the order of the day in an attritional opening 20 minutes, with neither side able to create a clear-cut opportunity. In fact, the most noteworthy moments came in defence, with a thunderous hit from Leigh’s Edwin Ipape to dislodge the ball from Joe Mellor’s grasp handing the Leopards a chance. However, they couldn’t make the most of their early field position and let the Red Devils off the hook, with one or two key errors in prime attacking positions.
And as the half-hour mark approached, Salford began to settle into a rhythm, led by the boot of their scrum-half, Marc Sneyd. It was Sneyd’s kick that caused mayhem among the Lei.