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Sheffield 24 Salford 24

Neil Barker
3/ 5/2008

REDS almost had their wings clipped at the Don Valley Stadium last night but a dramatic last-gasp try from Paul White earned a dramatic draw and preserved their unbeaten record in National League One.

Stefan Ratchford had the chance to win it with the conversion from wide out but failed to hit the target.

Shaun McRae's men spent the night running up too many blind alleys. A bagful of gilt-edged scoring chances were spurned and McRae was understandably unhappy at the finish.

Reds were trailing 18-10 at the break after the Eagles scored three first-half tries.

Mitch Stringer scored the opener and then two more in the space of two minutes from Brendon Lindsay and Ged Corcoran forced McRae to try to rectify things at the break.

Reds had a glut of early possession but struggled to combat Sheffield's flat passing game. Matt Gardner and skipper Mal Alker scored Salford's first two tries.

Sheffield extended their interval lead with a second try from Lindsay and Reds were in trouble at 24-10 but Reds' hard-working prop Craig Stapleton reduced the deficit with his side's third try.

Stapleton's try triggered a mini Reds revival but when Karl Fitzpatrick knocked on with the line at his mercy, one sensed it wasn't going to be Salford's night but they did get out of jail.

Jordan Turner went over for an unconverted try on 78 minutes and then White struck.

Thanks to White, Sheffield were denied another famous victory but credit to Reds for their never-say-die attitude.

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