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Hull KR 24 Salford City Reds 28

Dave Lawrenson
26/ 4/2007

THIS may well prove to be Salford's most important win for years.

It kept rock bottom Salford just one point adrift of the Super League safety zone and owed much to a stunning first seven minutes that saw the Reds open up a 16-0 lead before Hull KR had even touched the ball.

But Salford are still looking a pale shadow of the side that deservedly took so many plaudits last season.

The truth is that Salford fans have yet to walk away from a game this season thinking 'we played well today'.

But there were some encouraging signs in Sunday's relegation four-pointer at Hull KR on Sunday.

The Reds proved in the early blast that they are capable of playing some top-notch stuff.

Any club in the world would have been happy to score team tries of the quality of John Wilshere's, Aaron Moule's and Luke Robinson's. And, unlike against Hull FC last week, Salford showed enough steel to hang on to their early advantage.

And hanging on they were as Hull KR came within a whisker of pulling off a sensational comeback.

Both sides scored five tries and, in the end, Wilshere's accurate goal kicking was all that separated them.

With the way Salford have been performing this season, even the most positive Reds fan would admit to being worried about relegation this term.

And if they had to single out a team that they can see finishing below Salford this season they would surely plump for Hull KR.

The newly-promoted side had lost their last five games coming into Sunday's clash at Craven Park.

And there is no denying that defeat would have been disastrous for the Reds.

Thankfully, they played better than they had in previous weeks but they were still ordinary at best.

There were again several dodgy moments in defence with missed tackles from Andy Coley and Simon Finnigan (twice) leading to KR tries.

The home side had more than enough chances to win the game and the Reds were mightily relieved to see a Stanley Gene try disallowed for a knock on decision.

Robinson was once again Salford's shinning light. The bang in-form half back scored a try and played a key role in two others.

Half back partner Luke Dorn matched that feat but the biggest plus point saw close season signing Mark Edmondson make a promising return from a dislocated shoulder injury.

Coach Karl Harrison, who saw his side overcome a 13-3 penalty count in KR's favour, said: "We came to a very tough place and won a very tough game of rugby league.

"Hull KR played pretty good and put us under lots of pressure. We put ourselves under a lot of pressure too but in terms of our commitment and desire to win the game it was an outstanding effort."

Team: Hodgson; Viane, McGuinness, Moule, Wilshere; Dorn, Robinson; Coley, Berthezene, Korkidas, Littler, Sibbit, Finnigan. Subs used: Turner, Adamson, Haggerty, Edmondson. Tries: Wilshere, Dorn, Moule, Robinson, Hodgson. Goals: Wilshere (4). Attendance: 6,299.

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