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Salford City Reds 36 Whitehaven 10

Dave Lawrenson
1/ 5/2008

SALFORD may be insisting that Richard Myler is going nowhere but if he carries on playing like this they are going to find it hard to keep hold of him.

The Super League vultures are already reported to be circling with Hull FC and Wigan having been linked with the 17-year-old scrum half.

And it is hardly surprising as there is little doubt that Salford have a top talent on their hands.

Myler was simply sensational against an in-form Whitehaven side.

The Reds had gone two games without a win and they looked in danger of suffering another disappointing result before Myler stepped up to the plate with a hat-trick of tries in just 28 minutes of play.

Whitehaven simply had no answer to his pace and trickery.

And there were definite signs that his half back partnership with Kiwi star Robbie Paul is starting to gel.

Paul’s creativity sparked three of Salford’s six tries with their other scorers being Malc Alker, Stefan Ratchford and Mat Gardner.

The City Reds looked toothless in the Challenge Cup defeat to Wakefield the previous week but they were far more potent in attack against Whitehaven.

Their defence also improved out of sight. Whitehaven had scored 40-plus points in impressive wins over Celtic Crusaders and Lezignan in their previous two outings but they had little attacking joy against the Reds.

Despite having just four days to prepare for the game compared to Whitehaven’s six, Salford controlled the ruck and they dominated the always crucial forward battle with Phil Leuluai, Craig Stapleton and Alker showing their class.

Young loose forward Jordan Turner was also instrumental in Salford cementing their place at the top of the League One table.

He shone in everything that he did and even showed himself to be a dead-eye, if at first a seemingly reluctant, goal kicker in the absence of the axed Andy Ballard.

But the Reds by no means had things all their own way. Whitehaven looked the better side for most of the first half and they were unlucky to be leading only 2-0 after 27 minutes of play.

Salford were badly in need of some inspiration at that stage – and Myler well and truly provided it.

His first try was particularly impressive as he left several Whitehaven defenders clutching at thin air with an impish close range run to the line. That moment of magic seemed to give Salford a huge shot in the arm and the way that the Reds bossed the second half showed why they are widely considered to be the title favourites.

Team: Fitzpatrick; Williams, Littler, Gardner, White; Paul, Myler; Leuluai, Alker, Stapleton, Sibbit, Adamson, Turner. Subs used: Ratchford, Jewitt, Brocklehurst, Highton. Tries: Myler (3), Alker, Ratchford, Gardner. Goals: Turner (4), Ratchford (2). Attendance: 3,252.

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