Two converted tries in the last two minutes from last season’s Super League Grand Finalists ensured an unflattering look to the score line after Leigh’s first pre-season hit out.
But head coach John Duffy expects more from his squad against Wigan Warriors at Leigh Sports Village on January 23.
Trailing 22-6 at half-time, Centurions fought back to trail by eight points going into the final quarter.
Salford though recovered their composure and closed out the game with tries from Rhys Williams, Josh Johnson-hotly disputed by Leythers in a crowd of 1,611-and Ed Chamberlain.
“We still have a few more gears to go up from this first hit out,” said Duffy who had used all 24 players early in the second half.
“There are lots of things to work on collectively and individually.
But we have got to get better because we are only three weeks from our first game (against Dewsbury).
“Maybe it was an undeserved score line but Salford didn’t get to a Grand Final last year for nothing.
“We knew we were coming up against a well drilled, well coached team.
“Fitness wise, we didn’t look out of place. I just thought we might have been better in some parts attitude wise.
“In the first half we didn’t do much of what we had been practicing because we lacked some direction.
“It was better in the second and we did stuff we have been doing and concentrating on in training,”
With Danny Addy captaining the team for the first team, Leigh matched their hosts in the opening quarter.
Joey Lussick struck with a Tui Lolohea converted try after nine minutes. But Leigh rode the early punches to hit back though Liam Hood four minutes later; the try improved by Ben Reynolds.
Winger Williams notched the first of his try double to regain Salford’s lead after 23 minutes.
But it was touch downs from Ken Sio and James Greenwood, in the final six minutes of the half both with big contributions from ex Leigh loanee, Kevin Brown, that gave Salford the initiative.
Duffy rang the mass changes at the break, initially to no avail. But Brown’s departure led to a slip in Salford standards and Brad Holroyd and Junior Sa’u-against his former paymasters- put the result in doubt.
Martyn Ridyard missed both conversions otherwise the deficit would have been even closer.
Williams’ second try after 65 minutes secured Salford’s second successive pre season victory before two further scores from Johnson and Chamberlain all improved by Krisnan Inu-ensured a one-sided look to the outcome.
Match stats: Salford: Evalds; Sio, Welham Kear, Williams; Lolohea, Brown; Johnson, Lussick, Dudson, McCarthy, Greenwood, Flanagan; substitutes: Atkin; Ikahihifo, Walker, Pauli Pauli, Yates, Burke, Inu, Chamberlain, Jones, Ormondroyd Tries: Lussick (9), Williams (23, 65), Sio (34), Greenwood (39), Johnson (79), Chamberlain (80) Goals: Lolohea ¾, Inu 4/4 Leigh: McNally; Forsyth, I Thornley, Sa’u, Higson; Reynolds, Sammut: Mason, Hood, Ioane, Hellewell, Glohe, Addy; substitutes: Wildie, Thompson; Brooks, Woods, Spencer, Ridyard, Ince, A Thornley, Mullen, Field, Holroyd.
Tries: Hood (13), Holroyd (55), Sa’u (61) Goals: Reynolds 1/1, Ridyard 0/2 Referee: Marcus Griffiths Half-time: 22-6 Attendance: 1611
Pictures by Warren Turley
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