Match Report: Salford RLFC

London Broncos 66 - 06 Salford

London Broncos made it six wins in six Betfred Championship matches with a 12-try performance against Salford RLFC. The team included the return of Jimmy Meadows, Connor O’Beirne and Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who had missed recent matches.

The game began with Elliot Wallis knocking on close to the halfway line. From the resulting possession and field position, Salford opened the scoring when Cole Appleby grounded the ball over the try line following a forward run. Toby Hughes converted from near the posts.

Both teams conceded possession in the early stages and, in the eighth minute, Salford lost the ball inside their own half through Brad Dwyer. From the resulting set, London moved the ball left and Wallis scored in the corner. Meadows’ conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

London’s defensive pressure forced a fifth-tackle kick attempt from Hughes, which was collected by Alex Walker. The subsequent possession ended with Liam Tindall scoring in the right corner following passes involving Sam Davis, Meadows and Walker.

Will Lovell’s tackle near the Salford 20 led to a knock-on, giving London possession from a scrum. Walker passed left from the base of the scrum and Meadows passed to Neil Tchamambe, who scored on the wing.

After 30 minutes, Joe Hartley intercepted a pass intended for Tindall 10 metres from the Salford line and carried the ball towards the London try line. Jeremiah Simbiken and Epel Kapinias stopped the run, and Salford’s kick at the end of the set went beyond the in-goal area, giving London a seven-tackle set from the 20-metre line. The possession ended with O’Beirne scoring close to the posts.

London’s fifth try of the half came in the final possession before half-time, when Lewis Bienek scored from 10 metres. Meadows converted, bringing the half-time score to 28–6.

Salford’s first possession of the second half ended with Hughes’ kick on the final tackle going out on the full, giving London possession 30 metres from the Salford line. O’Beirne scored at the end of the set, with the try awarded after grounding was confirmed.

Ten minutes into the second half, London conceded three penalties, a set restart, a goal-line drop-out and a repeat set following a blocked kick. Salford did not score during this period, with the final pass of the sequence going into touch. A later penalty gave Salford another attacking opportunity, but a pass intended for Hartley also went into touch.

As the second half progressed, London added further tries. In the 56th minute, Kapinias scored from 10 metres after receiving a pass from Walker. Five minutes later, Kapinias scored again from close range.

Walker scored after 64 minutes following a 20-metre run. Kapinias completed his third try after a passing move involving Simbiken.

Tchamambe scored his second try following another scrum move, receiving a pass from Meadows before scoring near the left corner. Meadows missed the conversion attempt.

In the final minute, Luke Smith scored after a 40-metre run down the right side. O’Beirne attempted the conversion but was unsuccessful.

London Broncos: 22 Alex Walker, 5 Liam Tindall, 20 Brandon Webster-Mansfield, 2 Elliot Wallis, 26 Neil Tchamambe, 6 Connor O’Beirne, 18 Jimmy Meadows, 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9 Sam Davis, 16 Epel Kapinias, 25 Jeremiah Simbiken, 21 Will Lovell, 13 Siliva Havili.

Replacements: 11 Luke Smith, 17 Marcus Stock. 19 Ben Hursey-Hord, 24 Lewis Bienek. 18th man: 12 Jack Croft. 

Tries: Wallis (10), Tindall (18), Tchamambe (24, 76), O’Beirne (34, 42), Bienek (40), Kapinias (56, 61, 73), Walker (64), Smith (80)

Goals: Meadows 9/11, O’Beirne 0/1

DG: None

Sin-bin: None

Salford RLFC: 32 Josh Cartwright, 5 Jack Holmes, 29 Harvey Braddish, 33 George O’Loughlin, 20 Joe Hartley, 27 Matty Ross, 7 Toby Hughes, 24 Cole Appleby, 9 Brad Dwyer, 8 Sam Bowring, 12 Ollie Garmston, 38 Jonny Vaughan, 10 Owen Haldenby.

 Replacements: 21 Jack Gatcliffe, 42 Shaun Costello, 36 Danny Lynch, 37 Jack Bibby. 18th man: 26 Reece Stanton

Tries: Appleby (2)

Goals: Hughes 1/1

DG: None

Sin-bin: None

Referee: Kevin Moore

HT: 28–6

Penalty awarded count: 7–7

Match Report by David Ballheimer