Rugby League; Gregory fails to enjoy enforced new view

By Dave Hadfield

Salford 8 Castleford 18

Castleford's first away win in Super League for 11 months made grim viewing for the Salford coach, Andy Gregory, whatever his vantage point.

Salford squandered a bright start as Castleford showed a steel that was sadly lacking in their heavy defeat by Bradford last week.

Gregory had barely settled into the stand seat that the Rugby League has ordered him to occupy for the rest of the season when Salford got away to a flyer. Martin Crompton's high kick put Cas under pressure and when Barrie-Jon Mather took out Nathan McAvoy, Darren Rogers was there to take the ball and touch down.

Six minutes later, McAvoy barged through a couple of tackles and slipped a pass to Scott Martin and Salford appeared to be on their way.

Castleford got into the game when Mike Ford's bomb came off Phil Hassan for Jon Wells to pounce and halve the deficit.

Four minutes before half-time, a questionable decision brought them even closer, Rogers being penalised for dissent when he complained about an attempted spear tackle. An injury to David Chapman had brought Jamie Benn, a young winger recalled from loan to York on to the field; significantly, as it turned out, because his penalty was the first of three successful kicks.

Immediately before the break, he had his second chance after Brad Davis' pass and Mather's strength brought Castleford their second try and the lead.

They then set up their third Super League win of the season when Adrian Vowles' perfect pass, Jason Critchley's storming run and Ford's support play gave them their third, again improved by Benn.

"I don't know what it looked like from my usual place on the bench, but it was pretty dreadful from the stand," Gregory said. "I thought about getting further away from it. I thought about going home.

"I won't tolerate performances like that and there will be changes for the match against Wigan next week."

Salford: Broadbent; Hassan, McAvoy, Martin, Rogers; White, Crompton; Southern, Edwards, Eccles, J Faimalo, Bradbury, Hulme. Substitutes used: Savelio, Forber, Randall, E Faimalo.

Castleford: Gay; Wells, Mather, Critchley, Chapman; Maloney, Ford; Sampson, Davis, McKell, Tallec, Harland, Vowles. Substitutes used: Sykes, Orr, P Smith, Benn.

Referee: C Morris (Huddersfield).