Reds edge out Quins

Salford grabbed their first Super League double over Harlequins for 10 years with a 17-14 success at a tension-soaked Willows.

The Reds still nurse faint play-off hopes and their sixth win of the season keeps those just about alive.

Both sides started in enterprising fashion, Ashley Gibson making an early break for the hosts following Ste Tyrer's intelligent ball, before Quins centre Tony Clubb broke down the right - Jodie Broughton doing ever so well to race back and haul him down.

It was the visitors who edged the opening exchanges, probing at the Reds defence without breaking through.

And on their first meaningful venture downfield in the 10th minute, Salford's Luke Swain made the Quins pay, crossing for his first try of the season.

The dangerous Daniel Holdsworth scooped the ball from dummy-half, drew in the Quins defence, and his delayed pass sent Swain in.

Holdsworth converted but Purdham responded for the visitors just four minutes later.

A try looked on after Phil Leuluai put the ball to ground and when the ball was spun out to the right, Clubb managed to resist the tackles of Gibson and Karl Fitzpatrick before offloading for his captain.

After 22 minutes, yet another fine pass from Holdsworth created Salford's second, the Australian playmaker delaying just about long enough for the fast-moving Smith to take the ball against the tide of the defence, rounding Luke Dorn on his way to the line.

Holdsworth converted and then added a penalty to extend the home side's lead, while Quins winger Jamie O'Callaghan had a score chalked off for knocking on just before the interval.

Tempo

Salford upped the tempo after the break and Smith almost dummied his way through, but O'Callaghan hauled him back.

The visitors, who made a lacklustre start to the second half, were penalised several times in quick succession for failing to clear the play-the-ball area and referee Phil Bentham issued a warning to Quins skipper Purdham. Holdsworth's fourth goal of the evening put the hosts further ahead in the 47th minute.

Had Ben Jones-Bishop decided to pass to Will Sharp shortly after then a try would have almost certainly followed - instead he was held up and then bundled into touch.

Heavy Quins pressure on back-to-back sets was met by some determined Salford defence just after the hour mark.

But the line was finally breached in the 58th minute and it took a great solo effort from Jones-Bishop to do it.

Clubb, who drifted along the 40-metre line, eventually straightened up his line of attack and his one-handed ball set Jones-Bishop on his way.

The Quins centre coasted past Tyrer and then snaked past Dorn for a try converted by Orr.

Fitzpatrick then came up with a try-saving tackle on Dorn as the Reds began to wilt, but Smith dropped a goal to ease the nerves.

Jones-Bishop's second score in the closing stages - Orr missed the conversion - made for a tense finish but the home side held on for what may prove a crucial win.