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Salford City Reds 46 Batley 0

Dave Lawrenson
21/ 8/2008

SALFORD rounded off their home fixtures in style, tearing the Bulldogs apart from start to finish.

Second from bottom Batley had to end Salford’s unbeaten home League One record to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs.

But, despite having far less to play for, Salford romped to victory with consummate ease.

The Reds played well within themselves in the eight-try rout.

With Batley’s players giving off the impression that they had close season holidays on their minds as opposed to the play-offs, Salford rarely had to move out of second gear.

But the Reds scored some quality tries and the stonewall defending on show will have their play-off rivals quaking in their boots.

Salford were outstanding in defence, particularly in the first half.

It wasn’t just a case of Batley failing to score a try. They didn’t even come close to scoring.

Coach Shaun McRae has made it clear that he wants his Reds to go into the play-offs with some momentum behind them.

With that aim in mind, he rested just two players for Sunday’s dead rubber in props Adam Sidlow and Paul Highton.

That opened the door for youngster Luke Ambler to make his Salford debut.

And the beaming smile on his face as he hared over for a second half try was arguably the highlight of the game.

Ambler is one of a dozen players expected to leave the club at the end of the season.

And after Sunday’s game Salford’s fans had the chance to show their appreciation for the efforts of the players this season.

The fans clapped and cheered their hearts out as the Reds were presented with the league leaders’ trophy.

Malc Alker held aloft the trophy following the latest in a long line of impressive individual performances.

Jordan Turner, Paul White, Richard Myler, Craig Stapleton and Luke Adamson also shone for the Reds, who had eight separate try scorers in Turner, Alker, Myler, Stuart Littler, Ambler, Adamson, Ian Sibbit and Stefan Ratchford.