Friday 1st June 2012, 20:00 - Round:16

Salford City Reds claimed their second big name scalp within a week with a sensational comeback victory over Catalan Dragons.

Salford followed up their Magic Weekend win over Huddersfield Giants by denying Catalan the chance to move into second spot and continue their own push for a Stobart Super League play-off place.

The Reds looked down and out as they were blitzed in the opening exchanges and conceded four tries to trail 20-0 after just 24 minutes.

But they then scored 28 points without reply, despite being down to 11 men at one stage as Daniel Holdsworth and Vinnie Anderson were both sin-binned for dissent by referee Steve Ganson.

Then in a frantic finale the Dragons looked like getting the upper hand when Remi Casty touched down, but back came the Reds and Jodie Broughton’s second try of the game on 70 minutes, converted by Holdsworth, gave the Reds an eight-point cushion which meant Vincent Duport’s late try was not enough for the visitors.

Salford kept with the same 17 that defeated Huddersfield 38-34 at the Magic Weekend with just one positional change as Anderson started in the second row and Chris Nero dropped to the bench.

Catalan picked up a number of injuries during their win over London Broncos at the Etihad Stadium with Clint Greenshields, Jamal Fakir and Mathias Pala all ruled out to add to long term absentees Damien Blanch, Setaimata Sa and Frederic Vaccari.

But the French side were given a triple boost by the return of Daryl Millard, Gregory Mounis and David Ferriol after their injury problems, and they exploded out of the blocks with some excellent attacking play that saw them cross for two tries in the opening seven minutes.

Dureau instigated a crisp passing move along the line that ended with winger Millard crossing for the opening try of the night.

It got even better early on for the Dragons two minutes later when a rampaging 40-metre midfield break by loose forward Jason Baitieri set up the position for Scott Dureau to touch down to which the scrum half added the conversion to make it 10-0.

The Dragons continued to boss the opening exchanges and claimed their third try of the half on 16 minutes when more excellent passing between Dureau and Thomas Bosc created the space for winger Cyril Stacul to squeeze over in the corner to further increase their lead.

The one-sided feel to the game continued as the Dragons claimed a further try on 24 minutes when, despite having three Salford players on his back, prop forward Lopini Paea managed to crash over under the posts.

Bosc added the conversion to give his side a commanding 20-0 advantage, before the home side finally came to life late in the half with two tries in two minutes to haul themselves back into the game.

Firstly centre Joel Moon crossed on 28 minutes and then a superb break by Luke Patten saw stand-off Holdsworth collect his inside pass to score.

Holdsworth was on target with both conversions to cut the deficit to eight points at 20-12, but having grabbed a foothold in the game Salford appeared to press the self destruct button as first Holdsworth was sent to the sin bin by referee Ganson in the 37th minute and two minutes later he was followed by teammate Anderson.

Despite being two men short, the Reds started the second half in explosive fashion when winger Broughton broke from deep inside his own half and Sean Gleeson was on hand to finish the move off - Matty Smith’s conversion cutting the deficit to two points at 20-18.

The amazing turnaround was complete four minutes later when, still down to 11 men, Leon Pryce fumbled possession and Broughton reacted quickest to scoop up the loose ball and race 40 metres to score; Smith again adding the extras to make it 24 unanswered points for the hosts.

Salford made it 28 points without reply with a superb effort from Patten, before a try from Casty gave them some more anxious moments.

Broughton crossed for a second time late on to ease any tension and seal an amazing win, although the visitors had the final word with a late Duport try.