Round 27
Salford City Reds 26 d. Castleford Tigers 16

2006 English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: English Super League

Tigers fate to be decided on last day
Sun September 10, 2006
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Salford City Reds edged a bruising 26-16 win over Castleford Tigers to ensure that the engage Super League relegation battle will go down to the final weekend of the season.

Castleford must now avoid defeat at relegation rivals Wakefield Trinity Wildcats to escape the drop.

Salford came from 14-6 down to cement their first shot at the Super League play-off. Late tries by Andy Coley and Luke Robinson gave Salford the edge.

Their other try scorers were inspirational skipper Malcolm Alker and youngster Daley Williams.

Luke Dyer and Danny Sculthorpe touched down for Castleford, who dominated the first half but ran out of steam towards the end.

Castleford were able to name the same team that ended a four-game losing streak at Harlequins RL.

Salford made two changes with Williams coming in for knee injury victim Karl Fitzpatrick and Gareth Haggerty recovering from a virus to replace Danny Lima on the substitutes' bench.

They were also keen to end their home season on a high and give departing players like Andrew Dunemann, Sean Rutgerson and Chris Charles a happy final memory of the Willows.

It was Castleford who made the brighter start after kick-off had been delayed by 15 minutes due to crowd congestion outside the ground.

Andy Henderson had a try disallowed on two minutes when Sculthorpe's offload was adjudged to have gone forwards. Henderson was inches away from another try in Castleford's next set of six.

But it was Salford who opened the scoring when Alker drove over in a three-man tackle following a fine dummy and pass by Dunemann. David Hodgson converted but Castleford came storming back.

Danny Brough knocked over a penalty goal and converted a 14th-minute try by Dyer.

A miss-tackle by Williams was to blame for Dyer's try and Ryan McGoldrick claimed the assist out wide.

Brough put Cas 10-6 ahead with his second penalty goal after Robinson had kicked straight into touch. He then sent Sculthorpe thundering over with a simple inside pass.

However, he failed to convert and Salford reduced their arrears to 14-10 seconds before the half-time interval when Stuart Littler's grubber gave Williams an open invitation to claim his first try for the Reds.

Robinson showed breathtaking skill to put Salford's noses back in front on 54 minutes. He weaved past three defenders and Hodgson kicked the conversion to put the Reds 16-14 ahead.

Salford were then punished for interfering at the play-the-ball and Brough took the opportunity to level the scores.

But a late surge of pressure gave Salford the spoils. Coley barged over from close range and Robinson sent Hodgson over.

Charles converted the second of the two late tries as the home supporters went home happy.

Salford City Reds: (8) 26
Tries: Alker, Williams, Robinson, Coley, Hodgson
Goals: Charles 2, Hodgson

Castleford Tigers: (14) 16
Tries: Dyer, Sculthorpe
Goals: Brough 4

Salford City Reds: Hodgson, Williams, McGuinness, Moule, Wilshere, Dunemann, Robinson, Coley, Alker, Rutgerson, Littler,Brocklehurst, Finnigan.
Replacements: Adamson, Charles, Highton, Haggerty.

Castleford Tigers: Platt, A. Fletcher, Shenton, McGoldrick, Dyer, Lupton, Brough, Sculthorpe, Henderson, Nutley, Manu, Ward, R. Fletcher.
Replacements: Bird, Viane, Fa'aoso, Davis.

Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington)
Att: 6,106

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Tigers coach confident of survival

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