The magnificent Magic weekend got off to a cracking start as the Reds Devils took on the Widnes Vikings as the race for the Super League top eight gathered pace.

Kevin Brown returned to skipper the Vikings who came into this fixture on the back of seven straight wins which had seem them drop from the top of the league into eight spot. The Red Devils have won the same number of games as the Vikings in 2016 but find themselves six points behind after a points deduction.

After two good opening sets of six the Red Devils took the lead when Daniel Vidot found himself on a small overlap to stretch over from five metres and score by the right corner flag. O'Brien missed the conversion from the touchline but Salford's intentions were clear.

Four minutes later and Rhys Hanbury gave Widnes the lead as he evaded the Red Devils tacklers to make ten metres to ground. Hanbury converted his own try and edge the black & whites two clear at 6-4.

A real clanger from Gareth O'Brien, kneeing the ball into touch almost set up a second Hanbury try but after the Viking full-back ran the angle, the video referee ruled out his effort for obstruction. It heralded the start of a long stalemate which lasted until the half-hour.

Widnes extended their lead thanks to a Chris Bridge try following back to back penalties as he hit a short ball at pace to crash over. Hanbury missed a simple kick for the extras leaving his side ahead by 10-4. Hanbury made amends on thirty-four with a penalty to grab an eight point lead after interference at the play-the-ball, which saw Salford put on a team warning.

Robert Lui missed the rugby league equivalent on a 'sitter' in the dying seconds when he knocked on a bouncing ball, with the line beckoning, and the half ended with an eight point lead to the Vikings.

Fourteen minutes into the second half and Justin Carney revitalised Salford when the ball went through six pairs of hands before Josh Jones put Carney free to spin over in the corner. O'Brien kicked brilliantly from the side line to reduce the arrears to two points.

Thirteen minutes from time and the Red Devils hit the front. A Michael Dobson high kick was fumbled in the attempted catch by Widnes picked up by Rob Lui and passed to Vidot to go over for his second. Dobson added the conversion for 16-12.

Two minutes from the hooter and interference at the play-the-ball allowed O'Brien to extend the lead to 18-12 with a penalty goal and seal the Red Devils win.

This was a hard fought and crucial Salford victory that was won on a foundation of strong defence. They are now back within four points of the all important eighth spot and will have renewed hope of the Super Eights.

Red Devils: O'Brien (2G), Carney (T), Sa'u, Bibby, Vidot (2T), Lui , Dobson (G), Kopczak, Tomkins, Griffin G, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, Flanagan. Subs: Hauraki, Joseph, Walne A, Lannon.

Vikings: Hanbury (T, 2G), Thompson, Runciman, Bridge (T), Marsh, Mellor, Brown, O'Carroll, White, Dudson, Houston, Dean, Cahill. Subs: Heremaia, Manukafoa, Whitley, Leuluai.

Referee: James Child.

Attendance: