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Salford City Reds 20 London Broncos 16

Liam Chronnell
24/ 2/2005

AN electric performance from Karl Fitzpatrick was the difference between two evenly-matched teams at the Willows on Friday night.

The full-back, rapidly gaining a reputation as one of Super League's most elusive runners, was in sensational form to help secure the Reds' first win of the season.

Fitzpatrick is called the Wasp by team-mates because he is always 'buzzing' about, but it was London who found the Irish international a nuisance.

The Broncos simply had no answer to him as he scored two breathtaking tries either side of halt-time, and set up another.

For the opening try, Fitzpatrick cut through the visitors' defence before being hauled down 10 metres short. But the Anthony Stewart took Ian Sibbit's pass to go over in the corner moments later.

The 24-year-old then took Gareth Haggerty's inside pass before racing 50 metres to score a superb try in the corner.

Broncos hit back when Jon Wells gathered Leuluai's bomb to score, and they took the lead four minutes into the second half through the outstanding Leuluai

With the Reds down to 12 men after Sean Rutgerson had been sin-binned, Fitzpatrick took Cliff Beverley's pass to dance his way over to leave Chris Charles the simplest of conversions.

The Reds made sure of victory when Sibbit sprinted 30 metres for his first try for his new club after a powerful charge from Haggerty. Dorn darted over for a late consolation, but this was Salford's night, and Fitzpatrick's in particular.

SALFORD: Fitzpatrick, Stewart, Littler, McGuinness, Hodgson, Beverley, Robinson, Coley, Alker, Rutgerson 7, Sibbit, Jonkers, Charles. Subs: Shipway, Haggerty, Johnson, Brocklehurst. Tries: Stewart, Fitzpatrick (2), Sibbit. Goals: Charles (2). MOTM: Karl Fitzpatrick.

LONDON: Luisi, Greenwood, Bradley-Qalilawa, Sykes, Wells, Dorn, Leuluai, Trindall, McLinden, Tookey, Haumono, Hopkins, Purdham. Subs: Budworth, Stringer, Armour, Smith. Tries: Wells, Leuluai, Dorn. Goals: Sykes (2).

Ref: Karl Kirkpatrick.

Att: 3,315.