Sorry send-off for Reds
Salford's last game at the Willows on Sunday ended in a 44-16 defeat at the hands of Catalan Dragons.
Last Updated: 11/09/11 5:33pm
Salford exited the Willows for the last time on Sunday - but hardly in the manner they would have wished after Catalan Dragons scored a comprehensive 44-16 victory.
A record Super League crowd of 10,146 had gathered to watch the Reds bid their final farewell having played their for 110 years, with a parade of legends, including Mike Coulman, David Watkins and Paul Charlton, held before kick-off.
However, their contemporaries were unable to give Salford a fitting send-off to their new home, the community stadium at Barton, which will open next year.
The Reds, who had Stefan Ratchford and Australians Ray Cashmere and Mark Henry playing their final games for the club, were competitive for an hour but conceded three tries in the last quarter after forward Ryan Boyle had been sent to the sin bin.
French international Thomas Bosc marked his first appearance for almost four months with a try and two goals as the Dragons ended a three-match losing run to go into the play-offs in good shape.
The win was not enough to overtake Leeds in the table but a sixth-place finish in Trent Robinson's first season in charge is certainly an improvement on the wooden spoon they collected 12 months ago under Kevin Walters.
They now face Hull KR in a home play-off tie next Saturday and a chance to avenge their 30-28 defeat in their last match at Gilbert Brutus Stadium.
Dominant
Les Catalans were dominant from the start, with centres Darryl Millard and Setaimata Sa both squandering try-scoring chances, while full-back Clint Greenshields had an early try disallowed for a double movement.
Sa twice found his finishing touch before half-time and veteran second rower Steve Menzies supported a break by winger Damien Blanch to cross, with Scott Dureau converting all three tries as the Dragons led 18-12 at half-time.
The Reds trailed 12-0 after 15 minutes but captain Daniel Holdsworth ensured his side kept in touch by setting up tries for winger Danny Williams and second rower Luke Adamson and kicking both goals.
Lopini Paea scored a solo try early in the second half before Holdsworth got Williams over for his second - his eighth in his last four matches - but there was no way back for Salford once Boyle's yellow card reduced them to 12 men for 10 minutes.
As their defence tired, Bosc went through for his first try of the season and the Catalans extended their lead when hooker Ian Henderson and Menzies added further tries in the last five minutes.
