Salford fans left Headingley sharing the upbeat view of head coach Shaun McRae that an elusive first win of the season is surely not far off as the battling Reds were gallant losers.

Chairman John Wilkinson let it be known he was far from happy with many aspects of last week's disappointing display against Crusaders and duly got the instant response he demanded after flying in from a business trip to Italy.

Reds remain without a point after three games but it's not all doom and gloom.

They certainly competed with purpose and steel last night.

Reds were more gritty than Gucci in the Headingley mud but at least Wilkinson will have a far happier time this weekend after witnessing an encouraging effort from his young charges.

Reds only trailed 6-4 at the break against a Leeds side who looked anything but reigning Super League champions.

The Rhinos were there for the taking and would surely have been beaten by most teams such was their indecision.

Considering Salford were without injured first-choice workhorse prop Ray Cashmere and new signing Daniel Holdsworth who was laid low by a stomach bug - Reds put up plucky, if limited, resistance and can build on this display.

Speculation was rife before the game that a heavy defeat could have put Reds' boss under extreme pressure. This is not true. As chairman Wilkinson said last week, McRae and his men will be given time to deliver.

McRae boost

A big boost for McRae was the return of first-choice centres Willie Talau and Mark Henry.

They instilled much-needed stability and balance to the threequarter line. Henry had a fine first half.

He made a couple of decent breaks and proved typically dependable in defence. Matty Smith's kicking at scrum-half was again though somewhat hit and hope. Luke Swain, Ian Sibbit and Luke Adamson were also industrious in the Salford pack.

Reds leaked an early soft Keith Senior try but hit back with a fine try from Ashley Gibson. He seemed keen to prove a point on his return to Headingley and had Karl Fitzpatrick to thank for engineering the score.

The all important first try of the second-half went to Leeds.

It came from a kick of course, and allowed Brent Webb to extend Rhinos' lead to eight points. Reds however hit back with a converted try from centre Talau.

The Kiwi's power got him over the line and Reds grew in confidence from it.

Talau's try set up an interesting final quarter but Keith Senior's second try on 66 minutes, again from a crossfield kick, was a body-blow for the battling Reds.

Ian Kirke notched the final Rhinos' try on full-time.

Stefan Ratchford was another who impressed for Reds who felt they deserved something from a game they could definitely take heart from.

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