SALFORD AWAY

Here's a match report of the game which I've written for another website. I don't claim to be great at these but for anyone who is interested.

Salford 18 vs Harlequins 48

Salford City Reds went into this round 4 game on the back of 2 straight defeats having lost to Castleford and Wakefield in recent weeks. Their one win this season came with a 28-16 win over the other newcomers to Super League, Celtic Crusaders.

Harlequins go into only their second Super League game of the season on the back of a 24-18 loss to a struggling Wigan Warriors, the London side did win their first game of the season against Castleford Tigers at the Jungle and narrowly lost to the Manly Sea Eagles in a friendly match the weekend before the World Club Challenge.

The previous meeting of these two sides in 2007resulted in Super League’s only try-less game, final result being 5-2 to the City Reds.
Salford were missing influential half-back Richard Myler, and centre Willie Talau. The London side missing captain Rob Purdham, Australian import Luke Williamson and former Salford Gareth Haggerty.

First half

Harlequins took the early advantage with a chip through from Danny Orr on the short side of defence, with Chris Melling touching down for the try. Some poor defence by Karl Fitzpatrick. Danny Orr missing with the conversion.

Both McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Chad Robinson helped the Quins side build pressure with a number of strong runs in the opening few minutes. Will Sharp made a good break, stepping past John Wilshire and cutting inside from the wing leaving three would be Salford defenders tackling thin air, from the next play the Harlequins blow the opportunity with an incorrect play-the-ball.

Minutes later David Howell, shrugged off two defenders to score after 12 minutes of the game following a grubber kick from Luke Dorn. Howell running under the posts to make the kicking job easier for Orr, who obliges with the two points.

David Howell scored again within a minute after a break from England International Tony Clubb, the Quins with a four-man overlap. Danny Orr scoring the conversion leaving the score 16-0 to the London side.

Harlequins maintain the pressure with each attacking carry gaining vital yards downfield, with Salford unable to handle young prop Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Salford crossed the whitewash through Karl Fitzpatrick, however the try was disallowed by referee Jamie Leafy due to the attacking players crossing in the build-up.

Harlequin scored their forth score after 19 minutes on the board with London player, Joe Mbu crashing over the tryline, brushing past three Salford defenders to score under the posts, Danny Orr kicking his second goal of the evening to leave the score 22-0 to the Harlequins.

Salford managed to build some pressure with good runs from the forwards but weren’t able to get close enough to the Harlequins line. Salford managed to make a half-break through Ratchford but were stopped by prop Daniel Heckenburg, form the resulting last tackle kick Stuart Littler was penalised for being off-side at the kick, gifting the Harlequins possession just when the City Red began to build some pressure on the Quins line.

The fifth Harlequins try came from Chris Melling after 29 minutes, the ball being spun out wide to the winger after good build-up play. Danny Orr hitting the post and missing the conversion, 26-0 to the London side.

Salford rallied in defence but could not halt the Harlequins forward running and good kicking from Chad Randall. Salford struggled to gain any momentum having to begin almost every set from within their own half.

Quins increased the lead through Chris Melling’s third try of the night after quick hands from Jonny Grayson. The build-up from Harlequins saw the ball passed from one wing to the other. The conversion attempt floats out wide from Danny Orr. 30-0.

Salford continued to rally in attack in defence but could not prevent the Harlequins gaining ground in attack.

Salford’s pressure did gain the side a something to cheer about after Will Sharp knocked on a high kick, from the resulting play Rob Parker crashed over the tryline in the final minute of the first half. Wiltshire converting, making the score 30-6 at Half-time.

Harlequins coach, Brian McDermott rung the changes at half-time bringing on fringe players Luke Gale and Jason Golden. With Salford seemingly doing the same bringing on a couple of fringe layers of their own. Rob parker played the ball off the mark resulting in a penalty, McCarthy-Scarsbrook knocking on from the penalty restart gifting the ball to the City Reds. Salford then built pressure but couldn’t get anything for their efforts.

Salford certainly started the second half the brighter of the two sides , producing their best defensive effort of the game restricting the Quins to their own half with Jeremy Smith starting to shine.

Danny Orr had the ball stripped in a two-on-one tackle, which allowed the Harlequins to build pressure in the Salford half, Salford were caught in goal allowing the Quins a second set of tackles from the Salford drop-out. Harlequins continued the pressure in attack and on the last tackle Karl Fitzpatrick diffused the kick to prevent the Harlequins from scoring.

Salford then created a break down the left hand-side with Jordan Turner put the resulting play on the fifth tackle was taken easily by Matt Gafa.

Orr broke into space in the next play and with Stefan Ratchford covering the open space Orr was forced to throw a long pass which Leafy adjudged as a forward pass.

A sloppy play-the-ball from Quins and a set move from the Salford scrum resulted in a try for John Wiltshire. Wiltshire also converting the goal.

Harlequins continued to play some sloppy rugby and with Salford stepping up a gear the Red’s definitely got a roll on. Salford created a gap in the defence and Fitzpatrick went over the try line but was adjudged to have made a double movement.

Ray Cashmore made a great break and passed to Fitzpatrick who then offloaded to Robbie Paul who rolled back the years to score under the posts on 61 minutes. Wiltshire converted the try with a simple kick from directly in front of the posts.

Harlequins were certainly on the back foot with the City Reds and Alker then kicked a 4020 to increase the pressure on the London side. Jeremy Smith almost got through the defence on the first opportunity but was halted just short of the line, Matt Gafa then tackled Karl Fitzpatrick illegally to gift Salford a further six tackles. Turner was then held up on the forth tackle, and a kick through was diffused by Randall.

Classic dummy half play from Chad Randall resulted in a try for the Harlequins hooker in the corner, the Australian player burrowing in from the dummy half position. Danny Orr kicks the most difficult goal of the evening, 36-18.

Some good pressure by Harlequins created the eight try for the London side on 74minutes, Luke Dorn touching down to bring the score to 42-18. Danny Orr kicking his fifth goal.

Heckenburg capped a fine performance with a try with just a minute remaining, Danny Orr kicking his sixth goal of the night. Salford 18 Harlequins 48.

Harlequins went into at halftime 30 points to six up and came out after the half time a different side, as did Salford who must be disappointed not to have run the Quins much closer with their improved second half display. The try by Randall with 10 minutes of the game remaining was the final nail in the Salford coffin, deflating the home side and the vocal home crowd.

Salford 18 (6)
Parker, Wilshere, Paul
Goals: Wilshere 3

Harlequins 48 (30)
Melling 3, Howell 2, Mbu, Randall, Dorn, Heckenburg
Goals: Orr 6