Surging Reds leave it late

Salford: finding some form

Salford grabbed two late tries to claim a 26-18 victory over Harlequins and keep their play-off hopes alive.

The Reds have won four of their last five and could make a case for being the form team as the season reaches its business end.

Ashley Gibson scored two tries for the Reds, while teenager Dan Sarginson scored in each half on his debut for Quins, who looked on course for just a second win in 15 when they led 18-14 with seven minutes left.

But Mark Henry and Gibson crossed in the closing stages to give Salford what may prove a vital two points.

Quins made four changes following last week's 34-0 home defeat by Hull KR, handing a Super League debut to 18-year-old Sarginson at left centre.

And the Hemel Hempstead-born teenager took just eight minutes to make his mark, stepping inside off Kyle Briggs' pass to cut inside Dan Holdsworth and touch down next to the posts.

But Quins forward Lee Mitchell fumbled the restart into touch, allowing Salford the chance to hit straight back.

The Reds swept the ball wide following the scrum and had men over on the right, where Gibson crashed over from Adam Sidlow's pass.

Holdsworth sliced the kick wide to leave Quins 6-4 up and the visitors continued to have the better of the possession.

A Quins penalty handed Salford the chance to gain the lead but good defence saw Ray Cashmere held up before Luke Patten was stopped short.

A second penalty on the half-hour mark allowed Salford to keep the pressure on, though.

And although Stefan Ratchford's pass went to ground, Sidlow had enough time and space to gather the loose ball and send Vinnie Anderson over on the left.

Holdsworth again missed the kick to leave Salford 8-6 up before the Reds failed to capitalise on two successive penalties in a dour start to the second half.

And the visitors would make them pay from a penalty of their own in the 53rd minute, Sarginson touching down Andy Ellis' grubber with Gale adding the extras.

Flick pass

Salford regained the lead as Ratchford offloaded a fine flick pass to release Jodie Broughton, who cut in from the left wing to claim his 14th try of the season, with Holdsworth making the kick.

But a mix-up between Broughton and Patten in their in-goal area gifted Tony Clubb a 63rd-minute try, Gale putting Quins 18-14 up.

Broughton was determined to make amends and he was stopped short on the left following a penalty.

Salford then swept play to the opposite flank, where Henry managed to squeeze in at the corner from Holdsworth's looping pass, Holdsworth making a touchline conversion to edge Salford in front.

Salford were on the front foot now and after another flowing move made good ground, Patten put Gibson over to clinch victory.