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Featherstone 30 Salford 30

Dave Lawrenson
24/ 7/2008

THERE is no doubt that Salford’s result at lowly Featherstone on Sunday was a disappointing one.

But after the euphoria of the Reds’ Super League licence thumbs up two days later Salford’s fans will be thinking: Who cares?

For the record, the Reds came agonisingly close to pulling off a remarkable comeback win at the Chris Moyles Stadium.

They looked dead and buried when they trailed 28-4 after 50 minutes of play. But they kept their chins up and heroically scored five unanswered tries, including two in the final five minutes, before a controversial last minute penalty consigned them to their third draw of the season.

The referee blew in Featherstone’s favour when Anthony Thackray appeared to have knocked on in front of the posts and ex-Red Stuart Dickens made no mistake with the easy two-pointer.

But Salford’s disappointment was off-set by the fact that their main title rivals Halifax also drew at the weekend.

As a result, the Reds stayed one point clear at the top of the League One table. And with the Northern Rail Cup and their Super League status for next year already in the bag, this is turning into one hell of a happy season for the City Reds.

They came into Sunday’s game having twice recorded comfortable wins over Featherstone this season. But it soon became apparent that history was not going to repeat itself. Salford were second best for much of the match as fourth from bottom Rovers produced an impressive display to continue their recent revival, which had seen them win their previous two games.

The Reds were punished for their questionable commitment and numerous elementary errors with tries by Steve Dooler, Andy Kane, Wayne Pryce, Thackray and Matty Dale. But, and not for the first time this season, Salford came back from the dead like Reginald Perrin and recent copycat John Darwin.

Young winger Andy Ballard celebrated his recall to the side with a well taken brace of tries.

And other scores followed from skipper Malc Alker, the impressive Stefan Ratchford, the returning Mat Gardner and Stephen Bannister.

However, John Wilshere’s recent hot streak of goal kicking form deserted him. He knocked over just half of his six attempts at goal but the resulting dropped point is a lot easier to stomach with the Super League promised land on the horizon!

Team: Fitzpatrick; Gardner, Littler, Wilshere, Ballard; Paul, Myler; Sidlow, Alker, Stapleton, Bannister, Adamson, Turner. Subs used: Highton, Ratchford, Sibbit, Leuluai. Tries: Ballard (2), Alker, Ratchford, Gardner, Bannister. Goals: Wilshere (3). Attendance: 1,756.