Match Report by Ken Roberts
Salford City Roosters gave their slim chances of avoiding relegation this season a real “shot in the arm” with a third successive home victory, whilst at the same time, more than likely ending the promotion hopes of visitors Ince Rose Bridge. After hitting rock bottom last week with only 13 players travelling to Hull there was only one way the club could bounce back, and this week there was an air of total positivity about the club before the game. In truth, the Roosters were comfortable from the kick off up to making the game safe within an hour. The margin of victory could have been much wider except for the side “taking their foot off the gas” when they knew the points were secured.
Paul Morgan came back from 14 games out through injury and was outstanding at scrum half while Bradley White was outstanding with the boot, kicking 7 goals from 7 attempts and most of them from the touchline. Christian Higgins also had a strong game, but the pick of an all round great team performance was again Joe Connor.
Roosters forced a goal line drop out on 6 minutes when Mark Thomas off loaded for Morgan to chip and chase, forcing full back Robbie Valentine to kick the ball dead, but it was only a brief respite for the visitors as the Roosters opened their account 2 minutes later with Connor forcing his way over 10 metres from the posts (6-0).
The lead was doubled on 14 minutes when Morgan put up a high kick and Valentine spilled the ball under pressure from Higgins for Morgan to stroll across the whitewash (12-0), but the Wiganers responded on 20 minutes when a penalty put them on the attack and a quick passing movement was finished off by Callum Hughes in the corner. Valentine added a great conversion (12-6).
On 26 minutes Thomas fed Morgan and he “dabbed” a low kick past a defender then re-gathered and flipped the ball back for Martin Judge to score wide out (18-6), although, within 4 minutes Ince responded again. Keiron Eccleston sent a high kick to the corner and Rose Bridge’s outstanding player Danny Cassidy jumped highest to take the ball and score in the corner. Again Valentine improved from a difficult angle (18-12), but the Roosters took a 12 point advantage into the break with a try 2 minutes from the whistle when White sent George Kemp scampering over in the corner (24-12), after White had forced another drop out chasing his own reverse kick to the posts and just getting beaten to the ball by Connor Matthews.
Roosters were fastest out of the blocks in the second half too, forcing a third drop out 2 minutes in, with Higgins forcing John Turner to boot the ball to safety after a Lee Salisbury kick. Again the Salford side made the most of the repeat set with Connor storming over between the posts (30-12). On 50 minutes Andrew Muscat was stopped on the line and Salisbury sent a pass out wide for Judge to force the ball down, White’s conversion taking the score to 36-12.
The home side completed their scoring on 56 minutes when a great pass from Mike Foster sent Kemp surging down the wing and round the posts (42-12), although they did force a fourth goal line drop out on the hour when Will Rigby chased White’s kick to the in goal and panicked Gareth Jones into kicking the ball to safety.
In all fairness to Rose Bridge they re-grouped and never “threw in the towel”, having a period of dominance in the final quarter which yielded them 16 unanswered points. On 63 minutes Keith Eccleston ran across the Roosters defensive line before sending Hughes over in the corner. Roosters contingent were incensed at what they thought was a “crossing” offence, but the try stood and Valentine added the extras brilliantly (42-18). Valentine missed with his next effort though, on 72 minutes after Roosters dropped the ball on half way and it was booted downfield for Cassidy to chase and score (42-22).
The final try, albeit too little too late, came on 75 minutes when Martin Butler sent Hughes over for his hat trick try in the corner and Valentine again held his nerve to covert from the touchline (42-28).
A few weeks ago Roosters were 10 points away from fourth from bottom Elland and safety, but now they are 4 points adrift of Elland and the Halifax side are the next visitors to Moat Hall. Maybe, just maybe, with 5 games left to play (3 at home), the roosters could yet save themselves?
