Leeds 20-0 Salford: Rhinos overrun Red Devils at Headingley
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 02/04/18 6:33pm
Ash Handley continued his fine try-scoring form as Super League champions Leeds beat Salford 20-0.
The Rhinos had won their previous 10 home meetings with the Red Devils and they were never in danger of losing that record on their way to a 20-0 victory in wintry conditions.
Tom Briscoe opened the scoring and Handley went over for his seventh try in four games as Leeds took a 12-0 lead into the break.
Kallum Watkins added his third goal of the afternoon to put the Rhinos out of sight and Josh Walters slid over to complete a comfortable win, their first in three matches after coming up just short in their previous two outings.
Salford have found form at home - winning their last three games - but they remain without a win on the road.
Morning snow made way for persistent rain and Salford struggled with the greasy ball as the Rhinos opened up a commanding early lead.
A simple left-to-right shift brought Leeds their first try through Briscoe. Jake Bibby had knocked on in his own 10 and Handley was on hand to touch down following an error by Niall Evalds as he tried to escape his in-goal area from a kick.
Watkins slotted over his first goal to make it 10-0 after 20 minutes and it took a brilliant try-saving tackle by Stevie Ward - filling in at centre on his return from injury - to deny Bibby and keep the Rhinos' lead intact.
With the error count rising in increasingly difficult conditions, Watkins did not hesitate to point to the posts when Salford were penalised for a high shot on Richie Myler.
The Leeds captain made no mistake and Salford's hopes of a comeback were dealt another blow when full-back Evalds went off just before half-time with a head injury.
Salford - already without several key men including Mark Flanagan and Greg Johnson - improved after the restart, Junior Sa'u going close when he went dead after claiming Robert Lui's high kick.
But the Red Devils were out of it after Watkins added another two to make it 14-0 with 20 minutes remaining.
Logan Tomkins was held up as Salford set up camp on the Leeds line but the Rhinos' defence held.
The home side added gloss to the result in the closing minutes when Walters used the wet surface to dive over from Brad Dwyer's pass.