A try in each half from Pauli Pauli and Krisnan Inu saw Salford Red Devils secure a hard-fought victory against Betfred Super League leaders St Helens.
Despite trailing after three minutes, a try from Pauli Pauli on the verge of half-time meant it was all to play for in the second forty.
With Salford still behind and just under five minutes remaining, Krisnan Inu, on his 250th career appearance, found the line down the left-flank to give Ian Watson’s men the win.
Saints got off to the perfect start, Dom Peyroux made an aggressive break and found Josh Eaves on his inside, who grounded the ball to the left of the sticks in what was his first senior try on his debut.
The league leaders extended their lead, with two penalty kicks from Lewis Dodd to create a 10-point gap.
Salford finally got themselves onto the scoreboard in the 39th minute, and had Pauli Pauli to thank, as the Australian powered through Dodd to ground the ball and put his side within four points of their opponents at the break.
Saints thought they had extended their lead in the 56th minute when Tom Nisbet collected a neat Jack Welsby pass and went over in the corner, but the try was ruled out as Nisbet had lost control of the ball when it was grounded.
It was in fact Salford who would find the try-line next, and did so in style thanks to Inu, who received the ball on the left flank, bounced out of Welsby’s tackle and somehow got the better of a handful of Saints players to dive over with four minutes to go on the clock. Inu then converted his own try in impressive style to take the lead.
Josh Simm nearly stole it for St Helens, out wide with a minute remaining, but Dan Sarginson stepped up to pull off a massive last-ditch tackle on his return to the side, that ensured Watson’s men would return home as victors.
Salford Red Devils: Sarginson, Williams, Chamberlain, Kear, Inu; Lolohea, Atkin; Mossop, Ackers, Yates, McCarthy, Pauli, Burke
St. Helens: Costello, Nisbet, Davies, Simm, Rizzelli; Dodd, Welsby; Batchelor, Eaves, Walmsley, Peyroux, Paulo, Graham
Salford tries: Pauli Pauli, Inu
Salford goals: Inu (2/2)
St. Helens tries: Eaves
St. Helens goals: Dodd (3/3)
Referee: Ben Thaler
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