St Helens 38 Salford 10: Saints have a sticky start but recover to win their first game at new home

Andrew Dixon scored two second-half tries to ensure St Helens celebrated a new beginning at Langtree Park, but only after Salford had threatened to ruin their hosts’ big night.

James Roby levelled the scores in the 50th minute after Saints trailed throughout the first half. Then tries from Dixon, Francis Meli, Jon Wilkin and Anthony Laffranchi christened their new home with an emphatic win.

Saints chairman Eamonn McManus received an ovation during a pre-match opening ceremony.

‘This is the end of 10 years’ effort from a lot of people,’ he said. ‘I’m overwhelmed.’

Salford forged a 10-0 lead through Jodie Broughton and Ashley Gibson tries before Sia Soliola replied.

Going over the line: Jaes Roby scores a try for St Helens

A week after having their own stadium
opening night ruined by Castleford, the Reds threatened to spoil Saints'
party with a first away win for more than 30 years when they led 10-0
after 24 minutes.

But Saints came to life in the second half with a three-try burst in eight minutes to turn the game on its head and, although well below their best, they currently sit at the top of the Stobart Super League with two wins from their first two matches.

The Reds, who lost Jordan James, Sean Gleeson and Wayne Godwin to injury in their opening game, are bottom of the table without a win but deserve credit for their impressive first-half show.

St Helens, who gave home debuts to overseas signings Lance Hohaia and Anthony Laffranchi, held a parade of club legends before kick-off but it was one of the absent 'greats' who had the biggest impact on the first half.

Sean Long, a Knowsley Road favourite for 13 seasons, has been put in charge of Salford's attack as part of his role of assistant coach and he would have been delighted with their first-half efforts.

In full flow: Gary Wheeler is tackled by Salford's Shannon McPherson

With half-backs Matty Smith, another Saints old boy, and Daniel Holdsworth pulling the strings, the Reds posed a major attacking threat.

Centre Joel Moon demonstrated superb handling to carve out an opening for left winger Jodie Broughton, who had the distinction of scoring the first Super League try at the new stadium.

Clever hands by Holdsworth then got right winger Danny Williams into space and his inside kick was touched down by centre Ashley Gibson, with Holdsworth's first conversion putting the visitors into a 10-0 lead.

Gibson had another try disallowed by video referee Ian Smith, who had a busy first half, giving St Helens second rower Soliola the benefit of the doubt in awarding a 28th-minute try but disallowing one by winger Tommy Makinson after he followed up Roby's grubber kick to the line.

New home: Langtree Park opened its doors for the first time on Friday night

Salford were good value for their 10-4 interval lead but Saints demonstrated more urgency after the break and scored a second try on 49 minutes when Roby gathered his own kick after it bounced back off a post.

Makinson's first goal levelled the scores and Royce Simmons' men went in front for the first time four minutes later when Jonny Lomax's kick over the Reds defence bounced kindly for his half-back partner Lee Gaskell, who got Meli coasting past wrong-footed defenders for a third try.

It was all over four minutes later when second rower Dixon crashed over for another Saints try and Makinson's third goal made it 22-10. They would have been further ahead but for a terrific try-saving tackle by Broughton on Lomax.

The momentum was firmly with the home side by then and loose forward Wilkin took Lomax's short pass to grab a fifth try before an 80-metre by Gaskell set up the position for Dixon to claim his second.

Salford's defence cracked again in the final minute, enabling Laffranchi to score his first try for the club, with Makinson taking his goal tally to five.