Match Report by Ken Roberts
Salford City Roosters’ hopes of first division survival took a severe turn for the worst when nearest rivals Elland defeated Saddleworth Rangers 42-6 at home on the day that Roosters took a weakened team to Hunslet Warriors and were beaten by 10 points. The Salford side are now 6 points behind the Halifax club with only 4 games left to play.
Three of the Roosters’ team that defeated Ince Rose Bridge last time out were unavailable to travel to Leeds, and with no replacements to call on the team travelled with only one substitute. It was a frustrating afternoon for the Roosters coaching staff because the team were outstanding on the day but just ran out of steam. Hunslet scored 3 tries in the first half, all in the last 9 minutes, and 4 tries in the second half against a the tiring visitors. With a full compliment of substitutes there is little doubt that the Salford side would be in a healthier position tonight.
Christian Higgins was again on top form for the Roosters and Danny Trimble, so often overlooked for the amount of work he gets through, worked tirelessly in attack and defence against a big side, but once again the outstanding Joe Connor took the man of the match award.
Roosters actually took the lead after only 2 minutes when Tom Smith surged between the sticks for a 40 metre interception try that Bradley White converted (6-0) but there were no further scores until 31 minutes, although the home side did force 2 goal line drop outs on 22 and 29 minutes, with Higgins coming to the rescue on both occasions. It was after the second drop out that Hunslet drew level When Johnny Dawson was held on the line and Dave Norton burst over for a try that Hunslet’s outstanding player Gary McLelland converted (6-6).
The Warriors took the lead on 37 minutes when they kept the ball alive with 3 off loads before Caldon Bravo spun out of a tackle to score (6-12), and right from the re-start they broke down the middle with McLelland finishing off between the sticks. McLelland also converted both efforts (6-18) but there was still time before the break for Roosters to give themselves some hope. White kicked to the in-goal on the last tackle and when Warriors failed to deal with it, the ball bounced back into the arms of Andrew Muscat who touched down 10 metres from the post leaving White a simple conversion (12-18).
The second period was only 4 minutes old when Dawson made a break again before sending McLelland racing between the sticks for another converted try (12-24) and 5 minutes later McLelland turned provider, sending a long pass to the wing for Lee West to score, although too wide out for McLelland to add the extras (12-28).
On 54 minutes Roosters reduced the arrears when Jake Lynch was held on the line and Lee Salisbury sent Connor crashing over for a trade mark try. White added the goal points 18-28, but the home side stretched the lead again on the hour when Karl Featherstone sent a kick to the corner West dived over in the corner for his second try, although again the angle was too tight for McLelland to convert (18-32).
McLelland also failed with his last conversion attempt, although it was his astute pass that sent Chris Hartley through a gap to score on 66 minutes (18-36), yet it was the Roosters that finished the game with a flourish and 2 tries that White failed to convert by inches both times. The first came on 73 minutes when Alex Edwards was held close to the line and Muscat scored his second try after taking a pass from Salisbury (22-36), then, on 77 minutes Salford moved the ball quickly across the pitch where Higgins and Muscat were the last hands it passed through on the way to Smith scoring his second try in the corner (26-36).
