Reds hit Rovers for six

Salford City Reds bounced back from two successive defeats to run in six tries against Hull KR at The Willows on Friday night.

The 34-18 victory, only The Reds second win of this Super League campaign, came in a thoroughly dominant performance in front of a boisterous shed stand.

Having taken an early two try lead within the opening quarter through Ryan Boyle and Jodie Broughton the visitors hit back with an 18 point riposte after an abject opening.

It was Hull FC exile Craig Hall who’s 14 point haul awoke Hull Kingston Rovers from their relative slumber.

This comeback however was brought to an abrupt conclusion via two tries in a minute from Stefan Ratchford and Matty Smith.

With all eyes on big money signing Willie Mason it was Salford newcomer Sean Gleeson who made the greater impact.

The visitors who hadn’t lost to the Reds in Super League since 2007 found themselves without influential back rower’s Clint Newton and captain Mick Vella along with Great Britain winger Peter Fox.

Salford were required to call in under 20 academy players Callum Marriot and Alex Davidson as they went into the match without props Ray Cashmere and Iafeta Paleaaesina.

In this relatively inexperienced front row the Reds dominated, suppressing any attacking threat from Mason.

Front row forward Boyle went over for the first try at the end of a handling move that saw all but one of the Salford players touch the ball.

Influential full-back Luke Patten was at the heart of the next score, stretching the visitors defence to allow Jodie Broughton to score in the corner.

The sides went in at the interval with the score 10-6, an unfair reflection of the hosts dominance.

After the break Rovers struck twice more, Hall completing his brace and Scott Murrell evading the Reds otherwise stubborn defence.

This was to be the only glimmer of hope for an otherwise lack-lustre Hull KR as Salford proceeded to run in four unanswered tries, each of them converted by man of the match Daniel Holdsworth.

Ratchford and Smith scores were added to by ex-Wakefield centre Gleeson on debut with Marc Sneyd’s interception effort the exclamation point on a dominant Reds performance.

Harlequins 20 - Newcastle Falcons 21

A last play Tane Tu’ipulotu try secured Newcastle Falcons place in the LV= Cup final next Sunday.

The try made it two wins in seven days over Harlequins, this time by just a solitary point in a game bossed by the home side.

Having lost just once this season at the Stoop, and with revenge in mind after their 33-18 defeat at Kingston Park the week previous, Quins wasted no time in scoring.

Scrum-half Karl Dickson marked his return from injury with a first minute try before Rory Clegg, enjoying a rare run in the number ten shirt converted.

The former Falcon Clegg soon extended the lead to ten after eight minutes as the Londoners made the most of a high tempo opening period.

Harlequins however, masters of their own downfall throughout, gifted Newcastle with an immediate chance to pull back to within a converted try. The prolific Jimmy Gopperth made no mistake with this opportunity, slotting the ball between the uprights.

The first half was one of both domination and frustration for the hosts. Joe Marler, sporting the most garish of new haircuts, and Maurie Fa’asavalu dominated in the loose with heavy carries consistently allowing Quins to cross the gainline. This domination however was not reflective of the scoreline.

The significance of this competition and the match, which had been brought into question by many commentators, was in no doubt with a skirmish between the players at the end of the first quarter.

Minutes later Newcastle found themselves a man down, a professional foul by Andrew Van der Heijden warranting him a place in the bin. Clegg obliged from the penalty kick to re-establish the home side’s ten point lead.

As the first half drew to a close frustration could be sensed from a Harlequins outfit unable to profit from both territory and possession. Their lack of efficiency was nearly punished, a James Fitzpatrick line break requiring a Tom Williams tap-tackle to prevent the score

As half time beckoned the visitors went into the changing rooms much the happier. Euan Murray, playing in the fixture due to religious reasons preventing his appearance for Scotland against England on Sunday, was awarded a penalty at the scrum to allow Kiwi Gopperth an opportunity at goal which he dually took.

After the break the game followed much the pattern of the first with the Falcons living off scraps. This time however doing so much more profitably, stand-off Gopperth pounced on a loose ball to sprint 60 metres, touching down and converting his own score.

With the scores level at 13 all, Newcastle were offered the chance to take the lead for the first time, man of the match Gopperth once again adding to his haul of points.

In the final ten minutes Harlequins appeared to have secured their cup final berth via a Michael Brown try in the corner, coming in the 25^th phase of a compelling period of possession.

It appeared for the North-East side and their small pocket of away support that the game was now beyond their grasp. They were however given the opportunity of one last attack, Gopperth kicking a penalty into the corner to set up an attacking platform deep inside the opposition 22.

It was from here that the Falcons mounted their attack, retaining the ball through a handful of phases before attacking the stretched home defence. Tu’ipuluto scored in the corner with time expired to break Harlequins hearts and send Newcastle through to the final at Franklin’s Gardens. Their LV= Cup final appearance will mark their first in a major competition since 2004.