Crusaders crush Salford

A Vince Mellars hat-trick inspired the Crusaders to a convincing 36-16 victory at Salford which suggested they would not be picking up the wooden spoon in Super League this year.

Although it was a battle between last year's bottom two, the manner of victory for the Welsh side will give Brian Noble confidence of climbing up the table this year.

Mellars helped himself to a hat-trick of tries, while Frank Winterstein, Michael Witt, who booted four conversions, Jamie Thackray and Gareth Raynor all crossed to give Noble his first win in charge.

Wrexham-based Crusaders had soundly beaten by both Leeds and Wigan but got a win on the board at the third attempt by outclassing the hosts at the Willows.

Witt's hanging cross-field kick was taken expertly by centre Mellars, who climbed above Dean McGilvray and dropped over the line for the opening try on four minutes.

Answer

The hosts answered after just a minute though as Dan Holdsworth finished well in the right corner, and Stefan Ratchford nailed the conversion for 6-6.

The Crusaders scored once more in the ninth minute with Winterstein finishing in the corner, before Mellars crossed for his second in the 13th minute, in a carbon copy of his first.

Matty Smith knocked on when looking certain to score, but he atoned for Salford when offered another chance to cross the whitewash in 28th minute.

The visitors just a minute to pull further ahead in the second half, with Mellars completing a hat-trick and he again climbed above McGilvray to collect a high kick and crash over in the corner.

Witt, who tagged on the extras, got in on the act with a score of his own five minutes later following some good passing rugby, again down the Salford left.

Another score for the visitors arrived just after the hour mark following Holdsworth's sin-binning for holding down, as the ball was worked wide and a clear numerical advantage allowed Thackray to scamper his way under the posts.

Salford, who have huge problems to address following tonight's defeat, scored a late consolation through Karl Fitzpatrick but it proved little consolation as Raynor added a seventh.