Roosters travelled across the Pennines to Bradford to face 3rd placed promotion contenders Dudley Hill – a team that have become something of a bogey side to the Roosters.
After winning the first ever meeting between these two sides, on this ground, in 1999 the Salford team had failed to win in 13 straight games against the Yorkshire men. Make that 14 now. This defeat leaves the Roosters just 2 points above the relegation zone now and 2 points behind Blackbrook and badly in need of another victory.
On this occasion however the Roosters can consider themselves unlucky, after matching their hosts in every department, but once again injuries to key players took their toll and after leading at half time they failed to register a point in the second period.
Coach Paul Verdon made 8 changes to the side that beat Askam as the absentee list grew longer but, on the plus side, He will be very pleased by an outstanding debut performance from young winger Klaus Ndinga, although it was a less fresher face – Mark Thomas that took the man of the match award.
Defences were on top in the opening exchanges and it looked to be heading for a low scoring game so, when the home team were penalised for mouthing on 13 minutes Bradley White slotted a long distance penalty (2-0), but the Bradford team hit a purple patch mid-way through the half. On 22 minutes Simon Sewell sent a kick to the in goal and Roosters knocked on to concede a goal line drop out which led to the opening try a minute later. Danny Samuel scored in the corner, although too far out for Elliott Cousins to convert (2-4), but straight from the re-start Hill scored a length of the field try taking just 3 passes before Cousins finished off in the opposite corner, and this time change kicker Sewell added the goal points (2-10).
Both sides wasted opportunities to score before the Roosters came up with 2 tries in 3 minutes themselves. First, White’s reverse pass sent Andrew Muscat through a gap to score a try that White converted (8-10) on 31 minutes and then Thomas finished off a move in the corner featuring quick passing across the pitch through Lee Salisbury, Steve Barry and White. What followed the try though can only be described as comical. White’s kick from the touch line appeared to sneak just inside the far post but both touch judges waved it away. Everybody assumed it missed until the referee, who otherwise had a very good game, later instructed the scoreboard operator that it was a goal. He changed his mind again after the game but it was too late and the goal has been registered with the NCL (14-10).
Christian Higgins pulled off a try saving tackle to deny Hill in the last minute of the half but held on to his man too long and was promptly sin binned. With Roosters down to 12 men Hill piled the pressure on at the start of the second half and they finally broke Roosters’ resistance just before Higgins returned to the fray. Kyle Carter scored 5 minutes from the corner and an excellent kick from Sewell nudged the home side ahead (14-16).
Roosters tried everything to get back into the game, but one injury after another reduced them to “walking wounded” as the game went into the final quarter and their brave effort to get something out of the game came to nothing in the last minute. Roosters were about to launch one last gasp attack from their own half but a pass went to ground and Carter gleefully picked up the loose ball and scored next to the post. With Sewell off the pitch though another kicker – Daniel Softly tried his luck for Dudley Hill but somehow managed to scuff his shot wide (14-20).
