AWESOME defence, a 90 per cent completion rate and clinical finishing were the key ingredients to what was Salford’s most impressive performance of the season on Sunday.

And that is saying something when you consider that Salford have won at defending champions Leeds this season.

What sets Sunday’s game apart is the ease of Salford’s victory. Highly-rated Huddersfield started the match fourth in the table but they would have been ‘nilled’ had the referee not turned down the appeals for a foul on Mark Henry in the lead up to Luke Robinson’s try.

The Giants were out-enthused and out-muscled by Salford from start to finish.

Salford’s organisation, discipline, kicking game and control of the ball in the wet conditions were spot on as they proved, for the first time since gaining promotion through the new licensing system, that they are not only capable of beating the Super League elite but they are capable of beating them comfortably.

That represents a giant leap forward for the ever improving Reds. And it is fair to say that none of their Super League rivals will be taking them lightly from here on in.

Salford were conceding tries for fun at the start of the season but, with their team spirit shining like a beacon, they looked an impenetrable force on Sunday.

Huddersfield had plenty of possession and good field position. But Salford’s sliding defence was different class and, with young guns Stefan Ratchford and Richard Myler continuing their exciting recent form in the halves, the Reds always looked a threat in attack.

Ratchford’s side-stepping prowess caused Huddersfield no end of problems and the always lively Myler scored a stunning 80 metres interception try and set up Salford’s opening touch down for John Wilshere to well and truly win his scrum half duel with Robinson.

Reds fans were devastated when they lost Robinson’s services when Salford were relegated in 2007 but the songs that they sung on Sunday proved that they would not have him back now that England international Myler has emerged as one of the top talents in the sport.

Two other members of Salford’s ill-fated 2007 campaign played against the Reds on Sunday in David Hodgson and Michael Korkidas.

Hodgson had a nightmare, making error after error. And Korkidas was part of a Giants pack that lost the forward battle at a canter.

All of Salford’s forwards excelled, with Ray Cashmere the pick of the bunch. But you would be hard pressed to find a Salford player who didn’t perform heroics on Sunday.

Team: Wilshere; Henry, Turner, Talau, Goulding; Ratchford, Myler; Cashmere, Alker, Parker, Sibbit, Adamson, Swain. Subs used: Jewitt, Leuluai, Paul, Littler. Tries: Wilshere, Goulding, Myler, Henry. Goals: Wilshere (4). Attendance: 6,903.