Top against bottom as the Salford Red Devils hosted the Leeds Rhinos in an early round ten match, on the weekend of the World Club Challenge. Salford had the chance to go two points clear of the pack if they could record their third consecutive win at the start of the season, a thirty-nine point win could lift the Rhinos up to fifth in the embryonic league table.

Ian Watson had the luxury of naming an unchanged side for the third consecutive week, Dave Furner’s Rhinos were without Liam Sutcliffe and Mikolaj Oledzki but did welcome back Brad Singleton.

Joey Lussick went through three Leeds defenders to get the opening try on eight minutes when he went from acting half-back to attack the line. The referee consulted with his in-goal judge and pointed to the spot. Ken Sio kicked the conversion, the best of starts for the league leaders.

A Trent Merrin break saw a pass to Adam Cuthbertson who cantered over, to the boos of the home supporters calling for a forward pass. Tui Lolohea added the extra two to level the scores after twenty, a little against the early run of play.

Within a minute Kallum Watkins was the provider as he pulled in the defenders before putting Jack Walker free for a long range forty metre run to the line. Lolohea added the goal and the Rhinos double-whammy put them 12-6 ahead.

On twenty-four a Lolohea was grounded by Konrad Hurrell as he beat the Red Devils chaser Niall Evalds to the ball, punishing the home side for putting their kick off out on the full. Lolohea added the extras, the Rhinos on a roll with three tries in seven minutes.

Just before half time Joey Lussick went close after a Hastings break with the Rhinos defence covering back to haul the Devils try scorer down.

Three minutes into the second half Josh Jones pushed his way past two tacklers to score on the last tackle through heavy Leeds traffic. Sio kicked brilliantly from the touchline, the Rhinos lead down to six points.

After a penalty on fifty, and a subsequent pushing melee, Jansin Turgut was shown a yellow card for rushing in for the Red Devils. Lolohea kicked the penalty, the Rhinos now 20-12 ahead.

The Red Devils were awarded a penalty on fifty-seven and Sio kicked the two from in-front of the uprights.

Hurrell grabbed his second of the match on sixty, still a man to the good, when he finished a flowing move to cross in the corner. Lolohea was unable to add the extra two, Leeds 22-12 ahead.

On sixty-three Matt Parcell went over from acting half-back for a short range try, the Rhinos regaining control of the  game against the league leaders. Lolohea added the extras, the Red Devils now needed three converted tries.

When Walker followed a Richie Myler kick, he won the race and was able to pick up the ball, beat the full back, and score. Lolohea added the conversion for 36-14 and the Rhinos had hit Salford with three tries in seven minutes for the second time in the game.

From the restart Walker went in again to complete his hat-trick, the Rhinos running riot. Lolohea was again accurate with the boot.

Ash Handley was next on the scoresheet for the Rhinos when he won a race for the line to ground off a Parcell pass, the Red Devils defence evaporating. Lolohea was unable to add the extras, the Rhinos 46-14 ahead.

Todays result sees the Red Devils drop three places in the table to fourth while the Leeds Rhinos climb from bottom spot into seventh. One coach will be mightily happy with his sides performance while the other will be deeply frustrated that two lapses of concentration, one in each half, cost his side dear. The Rhinos register a well deserved first win of the season while the Red Devils taste their first defeat.

Red Devils: Evalds, Olpherts, Welham, Sa’u, Sio (3G), Lui, Hastings, Mossop, Lussick (T), Dudson, Jones (T), Turgut (SB on 49), Flanagan.  Subs: Burke, Nakubuwai, Griffin, Tomkins.

Rhinos: Walker (3T), Briscoe, Watkins, Hurrell (2T), Handley (T), Lolohea (7G), Myler, Peteru, Dwyer, Cuthbertson (T), Ferres, Ward, Merrin.  Subs: Donaldson, Smith, Singleton, Parcell (T).

Referee: James Child.

Half-Time: 6-18.

Full-Time: 14-46.

Attendance: 4,385.