Salford hold off late fightback to beat Giants

Nene Macdonald ed Salford from Leeds before the start of the 2024 season
- Published
Betfred Super League
Huddersfield (0) 16
Tries: Swift, Lolohea, Bibby Goals: Connor 2
Salford (12) 18
Tries: Macdonald 2, Ryan Goals: Sneyd 3
Salford Red Devils survived a late Huddersfield Giants fightback to move level on points with a clutch of clubs at the top of the Super League table.
Nene Macdonald looked to have inspired Salford to a comfortable win, scoring a try in each half and setting up their other score for Ethan Ryan.
Trailing 18-0, Huddersfield's frustration was compounded when winger Elliot Wallis was sent off midway through the second period for making head-to-head with Salford's Tim Lafai.
However, playing at home in any competition for the first time since 23 March, the Giants scored three tries in the final 10 minutes in a frenetic finale but fell short of a stunning win.
In the end, Adam Swift's 11th try in Super League this season, plus further scores from Tui Lolohea and Jake Bibby, were not enough to prevent a second consecutive defeat for Ian Watson's team.
- Published3 May 2024
- Published3 May 2024
Papua New Guinea international Macdonald intercepted Jake Connor's and raced over from inside his own half for the game's opening try, before he turned provider with a neat offload for Ryan's score.
Brierley had been yellow-carded for a high tackle on Esan Marsters just before half-time but Salford made light of their one-player disadvantage after the break, with Macdonald darting over from dummy-half for the visitors' third.
Parity of numbers was restored soon after Wallis' dismissal as Chris Atkin was shown a yellow card for a professional foul, after which Huddersfield produced a prolonged spell of pressure and almost completed an astonishing comeback.
Swift, Super League's leading try-scorer in 2024, dashed down the left touchline to get the hosts on the scoreboard before Lolohea grounded from a grubber kick and Bibby dived in at the corner to get the Giants within two points.
But time ran out for Huddersfield, who are eighth in a congested Super League table, while Salford are fifth but level on points with leaders St Helens.
Huddersfield: Connor; Swift, Marsters, Naiqama, Wallis; Lolohea, Clune; Wilson, Milner, Greenwood, Rushton, Halsall, Yates.
Interchanges: Golding, Ikahihifo, Bibby, Salabio.
Salford: Brierley; Ryan, Macdonald, Lafai, Cross; Atkin, Sneyd; Singleton, Mellor, Ormondroyd, Stone, Watkins, Partington.
Interchanges: Cust, Wright, Shorrocks, Dudson.
Referee: Tom Grant.