MATCH REPORT

Salford City Reds 34-0 Harlequins RL

The Willows

Friday 4 August 2006 - 8pm

Super League XI - Round 23

Luke Robinson destroyed Harlequins with his dazzling skill as Salford City Reds moved a step closer towards play-off paradise in engage Super League.

The diminutive scrum-half inspired Salford to their first win in four games to enhance their hopes of reaching the play-offs for the first time.

He was at the heart of all of Salford's best moves and he had the home crowd in raptures when he somehow escaped from a two-man tackle to score a game-turning try seconds before the half-time hooter.

Robinson's heroics were one in the eye for Harlequins half-back Luke Dorn as he looks set to move to the Reds next season.

But with all eyes on him at the Willows, Dorn did little to justify his top billing.

Harlequins were outplayed throughout and they are now firmly entrenched in a relegation battle.

Salford opened the scoring on 10 minutes when Chris Charles fed the rampaging Sean Rutgerson and the South African prop barged over from close range.

Full-back Mark McLinden was no match for Rutgerson when the two players collided on the try line and David Hodgson tagged on the extras.

The Reds looked certain to score again when Andrew Dunemann delivered a devilish kick over the top.

Salford full-back Karl Fitzpatrick was first to it but he failed to ground the ball properly when under pressure from Chad Randall.

Harlequins had another close shave when Robinson was stopped inches short of the try line following a storming 50-metre break.

Andy Coley then had a try disallowed with the Salford prop adjudged to have stepped in touch before putting the ball down.

The same fate was bestowed on McLinden moments later. The Harlequins try was ruled out for blatant obstruction in the build-up.

The half ended with the aforementioned dazzling piece of skill from Robinson.

Hodgson kicked the conversion to give the Reds a 12-0 interval lead.

Salford moved further ahead at the start of the second half thanks to Fitzpatrick's impressive vision.

He found Kevin McGuinness in the clear with a gorgeous grubber kick, and the Australian centre's pace did the rest.

Hodgson continued his 100% record with the boot and he was on target again when man mountain Gareth Haggerty bagged a trademark score from close in.

Haggerty's try confirmed Salford's first win in four games.

Coley and Aaron Moule then romped over late on to add some gloss to Salford's success.

Hodgson converted one of the tries to complete a 10-point haul.

 

"We are not thinking of whether we will be in the top six but how high up we will be." - Karl Harrison

Salford coach Karl Harrison vowed that his team would reach the play-offs for the first time following their thumping 34-0 win against Harlequins in engage Super League.

And he was full of praise for star half-back Luke Robinson, who caused Harlequins a mountain of problems with his impish skill as the diminutive scrum-half inspired the hosts to their first win in four games at The Willows.

He was at the heart of all of Salford's best moves and he had the home crowd in raptures when he somehow escaped from a two-man tackle to score a game-turning try seconds before the half-time hooter.

Harrison said: "We've been in the top six from round one, and we will not drop out now.

"We are not thinking of whether we will be in the top six but how high up we will be.

"We changed the formation offensively tonight, and that suited Luke Robinson. It gave him more running options, and we benefited from that."

Harlequins coach Brian McDermott denied the result was a disaster as his side battle to beat relegation.

He said: "This is not a huge setback. It's just a stumble. And to progress, we have to get through it.

"Salford were very good defensively, and we found it hard to break tackles.

"We dropped too much ball when we got in good positions."

Salford: Fitzpatrick, Hodgson, McGuinness, Moule, Langi, Dunemann, Robinson, Rutgerson, Alker, Lima, Coley, Littler, Charles.
Replacements: Highton, Haggerty, Gower, Wilshere.

Harlequins RL: McLinden, Wells, Gafa, Smith, Bradley-Qalilawa, Dorn, Leuluai, Mills, Randall, Heckenberg, Noone, Hopkins, Paul.
Replacements: Williams, Haumono, Budworth, Tookey.

Referee: P Taberner (Wigan)