Salford City Roosters travelled across to Halifax and came home soundly beaten by a very powerful Elland side.
Roosters gave it their all but they came up short on the day. A shortage of forwards for a number of reasons meant that the club had to use winger Christian Higgins as an emergency second row forward and it was just unfortunate that it happened to be the day they came up against probably the biggest pack in the lead. Roosters also contributed in some way to their own downfall with some poor passing choices at times when the simple option may have been more effective.
Roosters actually started the game very well but a kick to the in goal on 4 minutes was picked up by Elland winger Alex Milburn and he escaped being tackled in goal by a finger tip, but instead of conceding a drop out he spotted a gap in the Roosters defence and ran the length of the field for a try that Caysey Pearson converted (0-6).
Roosters drew level on 10 minutes when Bradley White and Jordan Parker combined to send Andrew Muscat over for a try that Parker converted (6-6) only for the home side to retake the lead in the 17th minute with Jack Fairbank stretching to score a try in the corner. Pearson missed the kick (6-10) and he also failed to improve Ben Andersons try, after he “dummied” his way through a gap to score on 21 minutes (6-14), but Pearson did add the goal points 5 minutes later after Craig Dyson “jinked” his way to the line (6-20).
Elland virtually assured the points before half time when an off load out of a tackle saw Anderson score his second try which Pearson converted again (6-26).
Roosters started the second half brightly as well but once again fell for a “sucker punch” after 5 minutes. A stray pass went to ground on the half way line and Richard Crawshaw swooped to race to the try line for a score that Pearson again improved (6-32). Just three minutes later though Roosters man of the match Richard Openshaw passed for Will Rigby to score a try that Parker converted (12-32).
Roosters were taking the game to the Halifax side now but they were left feeling aggrieved at the referee for the unconverted try that took them (12-36) behind on 55 minutes. Crawshaw seemed set to score with an interception but George Kemp showed a great turn of speed to catch him and pull him down short of the line. Crawshaw had no support but simply refused to play the ball until his team mates arrived and quick hands across the pitch ended with a try in the corner for Luke Read. Two minutes later the game was out of reach with a Chris Cullimore try converted by change kicker Anderson (12-42).
On 70 minutes Ben Hinsley scored the home sides’ final try which Anderson improved (12-48) but to their credit it was the Roosters that finished the game strongly. Danny Trimble was unlucky not to hold on to a pass that would have given him a certain try after a great break by White, and right on the whistle Parker hacked forward a loose ball and followed to help himself to the final try which he also converted (18-48).
