After the Huddersfield Giants secured their top eight spot last night, it was the first of two chances for the Catalans Dragons to register their tenth win of the season and make themselves uncatchable for the Leeds Rhinos.
Salford were still eyeing tenth place and four home games in the middle eights but needed two wins and Hull KR to lose next weekend, a tall ask for a side with only six wins all season.
It was oppressively hot in the south of France for this crunch game in front of a partisan crowd, hoping to see their side secure Super League for 2019, but concerned about the absence of Greg Bird who was at his wifes bedside as she prepares to deliver his second child.
There were just six minutes on the clock when Brayden Wiliame went own the left wing, stepping inside before finding Fouad Yaha to complete the score from thirty metres. Josh Drinkwater was unable to kick the conversion.
A fourteenth minute penalty for interference at the play the ball gifted Drinkwater a penalty goal for 6-0.
Drinkwater added a four pointer to his tally, scoring under the sticks after Samisoni Langi broke downfield and pulled in the last tackler before proving the money ball. The Dragons half back added the conversion for 12-0.
Salford responded immediately and capitalised on a Dragons mistake when Darrell Olpherts took a pass on the left wing and ran the angle to score by the corner flag. Ed Chamberlain was unable to add the conversion from wide.
On thirty-one tremendous strength from Jason Baitieri saw him back over the line and ground the ball on the line. Drinkwater added another two points for an 18-4 lead. Within two minutes Kenny Edwards took a pass from Yaha after he leapt to take a Drinkwater high kick and went over for the fourth Dragons try. Drinkwater again added the extras for 24-4, the Dragons easing themselves to safety.
Yaha got his second of the game, sumersaulting over the line off a Wiliame pass to ground by the corner flag. Drinkwater was unable to add the extras as the half time hooter called the sides back into the changing rooms.
Yaha completed his hat-trick three minutes after the restart thanks to fast hands from Wiliame as his touch pass found the winger in enough space to ground, again in the corner. Drinkwater was once again unable to add the extra two.
On forty-seven it was Yaha’s fourth, one handed sliding over the line. Drinkwater finally found the target from the wing, the Dragons now 38-4 ahead.
The Red Devils got some reward for their industry thanks to a Josh Jones into the hands of Josh Wood to step through a broken defence to ground. Chamberlain added the conversion and Salford hit double figures.
A Drinkwater grubber was collected by Edwards in goal and grounded for his second of the afternoon to push the Dragons through the forty mark. Drinkwater added the conversion and with ten minutes remaining it was 44-10 to the home side.
The Dragons are safe in the top eight, and certain of Super League in 2019. After a dreadful start to the season they have found tremendous form in the latter half and go into their cup semi-final and the Super Eights in tremendous form. Salford play their last game of the weekly rounds against the Leeds Rhinos next week before fighting for their Super League lives in the middle eights.
Dragons: Gigot, Tierney, Mead, Wiliame, Yaha (4T), Langi, Drinkwater (T, 5G), Simon, McIlorum, Moa, Jullien, Garcia, Casty. Subs: Anderson, Bousquet, Baitieri (T), Edwards (2T).
Red Devils: Chamberlain (G), Bibby, Jones, Sa’u, Olpherts (T), Lui, Shorrocks, Tasi, Wood (T), Mossop, Lannon, Nakubuwai, Murray. Subs: Evalds, McCarthy, Nzoungou, Burke
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas.
Half-Time: 28-4.
Full-Time: 44-10.
Attendance: .
