Quins sink relegated Reds
Harlequins earned a narrow victory over relegated Salford in their final home game of the season.
Last Updated: 08/09/07 5:14pm
Harlequins earned a narrow victory over relegated Salford in their final home game of the season.
Rikki Sheriffe scored two tries for the Londoners against Shaun McRae's men, who were determined to go down fighting.
The Reds took took an early lead at the Twickenham Stoop, but they were unable to hold on.
Quins still have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs, should they beat Catalans Dragons in Perpignan next week and other teams slip up.
However, their first win in six weeks has almost certainly come too late to prolong their campaign.
Hopes fading
Their hopes were fading early on as Salford forced them onto the back foot.
With the scoreboard blank, Henry Paul's sloppy pass was intercepted by winger Richie Barnett, who ran half the length of the field to touch down under the posts. Former Warrington man John Wilshere added the extras to make it 6-0.
But Salford's lead lasted just seven minutes - replacement Julien Rinaldi
bulldozing his way through the Reds' defence to score while Paul Sykes notched the conversion to level.
Salford were reeling and soon found themselves behind when winger Sheriffe
nipped in at the corner to score his third try in two games.
But the scores were level going into half-time when Luke Dorn crossed the
whitewash having been put through by Kevin McGuinness.
Dorn's try gave Salford the impetus they needed after the interval and stand
off Wilshere's converted try restored their lead.
But Harlequins regained their composure and when Paul Sykes converted Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook's flowing try, parity was restored.
Sheriffe then became the home hero when he skipped past the Barnett to cross the line in the corner.
