The visitors turned the tables on the 12-man Saints, who looked poised to extend their winning streak with Lewis Dodds darting over for his second try, pushing them to a comfy 20-6 lead.
But the plot thickened when Mark Percival found himself in hot water, shown the red card for a brutal shoulder charge on Jack Ormondroyd, turning the tide of the game. The Red Devils seized the moment, with Nene MacDonald and Chris Atkin narrowing the lead, setting the stage for Cross to swoop in and seal a victory that will be etched in the annals of Salford history.
The Saints, unbeaten in their last 41 home clashes against Salford since a win dating back to January 12, 1980, unleashed a storm early on with Jack Welsby, Dodd, and Percival tearing through the defense. But Salford, undeterred by the hosts’ fiery start or the daunting history against them, flipped the script in the most dramatic fashion.
The game reached a boiling point when Percival’s late hit on Ormondroyd earned him a one-way ticket off the pitch, tilting the scales in favor of the Red Devils. Despite Dodds’ valiant effort to stretch the lead, Salford’s relentless spirit sparked a stirring comeback, capped off by Cross’ decisive dash to the try line.
In the face of fierce late-game pressure from St Helens, Salford clung on to notch a historic victory, marking their third win of the Super League season and shattering a 44-year curse with a performance that will have their fans buzzing for ages.
