Salford Red Devils picked up only their second Super League win of the season by coming from behind to beat Castleford Tigers.
The beleaguered bottom club, who suffered an exodus of 11 senior players after suffering financial troubles related to a takeover, ended a run of 13 straight defeats against a side which had already beaten them twice this season.
Tries from Ethan Ryan, Harvey Wilson, Joe Mellor, Esan Marsters and Chris Hankinson – the first time they have scored more than three in a game this season – were enough against a Tigers side without a head coach following Danny McGuire’s sacking on Monday.
Director of rugby Chris Chester took charge while Cas seek a replacement, but two tries from Daejarn Asi and others from Josh Simm and George Lawler were not enough to prevent them slipping to a fourth consecutive loss.
Victory came at a cost for Salford, however, as they lost key players to injury with Jayden Nikorima going off with a wrist problem, Marsters dislocating his shoulder as he scored the try which re-established the Salford lead in the second half and both Loghan Lewis and Chris Hill needing head injury assessments.
Coach Paul Rowley had talked about seeing “green shoots” as they ran Warrington Wolves close last week, but he then lost half-back Danny Richardson, recalled from loan by Hull Kingston Rovers, and was forced to patch up his squad once more.
Cas have been poor this season and McGuire paid the price for that last week as he was dismissed after less than nine months in charge.
They were off to a bad start at the Salford Community Stadium too, as winger Ryan put the home side ahead after just nine minutes.
It looked like a familiar story for Salford, however, as Simm levelled and then Asi cut back inside the scrambling cover after a scrum in front of the posts to open up a 10-4 lead for the visitors.
Wilson then came up with two big moments at either end of the field, managing to force a knock-on over the line from Jeremiah Simbiken as he was poised to score, and then forcing his way over for a try of his own to level up the match once more.
Salford rediscovered the kind of flair that took them to fourth place last season as Marsters set up Hankinson for a try which put them six points up at half time, but two quick penalties at the start of the second half brought the pressure from which Asi scored a try, with Chris Atkin’s conversion making it 16-16.
Salford might have folded a few weeks ago but they came strong again as Marsters finished after a great break by Jack Ormondroyd and then debutant Olly Russell, brought in on loan from Wakefield Trinity this week, kicked through for Hankinson to score.
Lawler’s late try cast some doubt over the result but Salford fought hard to maintain the lead, sparking celebrations from their support at the end, although they remain bottom of the table.
