Workington Town fans will have to be older than 30 to have seen the last time Town beat Salford in a game at Derwent Park – now the Fibrus Community Stadium.
There was certainly no doubt about the convincing way the present day Town saw off the challenge of a Salford side which has been hastily put together after the collapse of the Super League club.
It was Town’s first win of the season and there was not much doubt about how comfortable they won 52-10 even putting into the shade the 1995 win for Peter Walsh and his men at 34-0.
In front of a 1,207-strong crowd, Town started strongest and scored after only four minutes when Jake Bradley stepped Agnatius Passi and Ollie Garston to score beside the posts and Jake Carter’s conversion made it 6-0.
Towns continued to dominate and although Salford defended strongly they were overzealous with a tackle, deemed to be high, and Carter slotted a penalty.
Town’s dominance couldn’t be contained for long and soon Carter was in for a second try, improved with a fine conversion.
There was little or no respite for Salford and on 20 minutes Jake Dickinson went over under the posts, following a huge mix up at the back. Carter converted.
Three minutes later Town were over again and it was Dickinson who climbed high to reach a Carter kick and score.
Carter’s conversion made it 26-0 and they scoring at more than a point a minute.
Finally Salford started to see some ball to attack with, but Town defended strongly and there was no way through.
After 15 minutes without a score Town got over again after a fine move.
They broke through Evan Lawther and when they spread the ball through many pairs of hands over 70 metres Alex Donaghy went in under the posts and Carter converted.
The final word of the half went to Salford as former Town winger Joe Hartley scored out wide but Toby Hughes missed the kick for 32-4 at half time.
Town were first on the scoreboard after the restart.
Zarrin Galea was able to strip the ball one on one and in the set that followed pure strength got Guy Graham over the line for his first try of the season. Carter converted.
Town went over again when Tuarae Rawhiti was the beneficiary of a lovely kick from Donaghy to swandive under the posts.
Recent recruit Dickinson was then the beneficiary of a huge run from Lawther as he was on hand to complete his hat-trick.
Salford registered their second try from a Town penalty when the hosts were guilty of holding down.
A marauding run from Brad Dwyer and a lovely offload to Passi saw the St Helens loanee over and Hughes converted for 48-10.
Town were back on the scoresheet near the end when Dickinson notched a fourth try, again ably assisted by man of the match Lawther.
Hear Jonty Gorley’s verdict on the game below:
