Super League: O'Brien kicks Salford to victory
Last Updated: 02/07/16 2:23pm
Three penalties from Gareth O'Brien in the final ten minutes gave Salford a 22-18 win over Castleford on Friday night.
Castleford were two points ahead at half-time thanks to a pair of tries from Jake Webster, and Luke Dorn increased the lead in the second half with a try in the 45th minute, before Salford hit back in the fourth quarter through a try from Mason Caton-Brown.
O'Brien's conversion made it a two point game, and the half-back added a penalty in the 71st minute to bring his side level. He then added a long-range effort to take the lead with five minutes remaining before a high tackle in the 80th minute gave him a chance to seal the victory in style which he duly did.
The win keeps Salford's hopes of a place int he Super 8s alive, with their appeal for a six-point reduction being heard next week. Should the appeal be successful, Salford will have already qualified.
Castleford on the other hand remain in 7th, safe in their place in the Super 8s at the end of the regular season as it currently stands, though that could change if the appeal is successful.
Salford started the game strongly, but it was Castleford who were first on the board. The Tigers were awarded a penalty in front of the Salford poles, but instead of kicking for goal the visitors opted to take it quickly. They were rewarded when the ball was sent left to Dorn who held up the defence long enough for Webster to punch through a hole and dot down.
Gale converted but Salford were able to hit back almost immediately. Gareth O'Brien took a pass from deep and attacked the line. There was an overlap developing but O'Brien opted to dummy and pinned his ears back to score following a hand-off on the final defender.
O'Brien was unable to convert his try, leaving Castleford 6-4 ahead.
The Red Devils took the lead at the beginning of the second quarter, with Robert Lui putting in a perfectly-weighted grubber into the in-goal area which Dobson latched onto. O'Brien send the conversion over from in front for a 10-6 lead.
The Tigers had the last say of the half, when Dorn took on the defence down the left touchline before flicking a pass inside to Webster in the tackle for his second, as the visitors took a 12-10 advantage into the break.
Dorn was first on the board shortly after the second half started. He took a long pass and stepped inside a stretched cover defence for an eight-point lead following the conversion.
Caton-Brown then scored for the home side, rounding the defence to dot down near the corner, and despite the difficult positioning, O'Brien added the extras to make it 18-16.
Salford were attacking in the 70th minute when Lui was hit high by Adam Milner, with O'Brien drawing his side level after calling for the kicking tee. He echoed the request when Dobson was tackled high with six minutes remaining, and slotted the attempt for a two point lead.
The Tigers were rampant as they tried to fight their way back into the game, but another high tackle in the 80th minute allowed O'Brien to bring an end to proceedings with another penalty.
