Completely dominated them in the forwards - Davies & Crosby especially were excellent, and that allowed Tomkins & Powell to work their magic. In fact, most of the tries were scored by the pack - Tuson (playing @ loose forward) got 3 and Davies 2. (can't remember them all...couldn't take notes, it was too farking cold!)

But what good does a game like that do either team?

Tuson was excellent tonight. Look a class above and didn't even get out of first gear

Not much - it's the old point about the low quality of most reserves games. Realistically, at least half of that side should be out on loan/dual reg - and we'd still beat most sides with basically our U18s side. Having said that, I've still seen a lot of improvement in some of our lads (particularly Tomkins, Powell, Russell & King), it's just that I think they'd improve even more playing at a higher level.

Logan was my MoM today, though admittedly playing behind such a dominant pack he had things easy. The problem, If it could be called a problem, was that our back were rarely needed, because the forwards were scoring early in the tackle count, before the ball ever went wide.

I love watching Russell running it out of defence, though - it's worth going to watch them just for that!

Are we going to see dual reg deals for any of our lads?

Not heard anything mentioned but surely we should be looking at it. In the long run games like that tonight aren't going to do them much good.

I do hope so. I'd like to see Tomkins, Powell, Davies, Crosby, King, Russell & Hughes all playing at a higher level.

I was very impressed with Acton again, too - that lad is definitely a future star.

Great Result, missed the game though.

Well done lads!

Acton was indeed impressive for someone who is very inexperienced.

They need to even the competition up by introducing a cap on how many juinors a club can sign each year. That way the better players would be evenly spread across the competition.

I know there are rumours of Sam Powell moving to Hull KR on loan, to cover Michael Dobson's absence.

The two clubs have a good working relationship, following the mutual success of the Charnley loan last year - does anyone think a similar deal for Powell is likely?

Is he ready for Super League?

That's difficult to tell, because of the low standard of most reserves games. I'd say yes, though - he's got a good rugby brain and I think will be a fast learner. He's certainly got the basic skills.

I agree with the comments about Tuson, he looked every inch a superleague player playing below his level. Ben Davies impressed also. I thought Tomkins went well too, did 80 minutes.Another very professional display, they will be very hard to beat this year, Warrington will be a test for them though. I am sure we will see some dual registrations soon, don't think Powell is ready to step straight into a Superleague team yet, NL1 for sure as could a few more of them.
As for 'what it does for either team', playing in a dominant U20s has done no harm for a lot of the players on display last night, they have come on leaps and bounds. Not really bothered what it does for salford!

[iA very impressive performance by your young lads last night at the Willows.

Quite a few future stars on view for sure.[/i

Not really. I think more credit goes to the loan/dual reg deals that most of them went on before stepping up to the first team.
Goulding at Salford, Prescott at Leigh, Mossop at Huddersfield and Barrow, Charnley at HKR, Tuson at Cas, Farrell, Davies & Marsh at Widnes, all came back much better players than when they left.