R22: Salford near play-off berth

Luke Robinson destroyed Harlequins with his dazzling skill as Salford City Reds moved a step closer towards the engage Super League play-offs with a 34-0 victory.

The diminutive scrum-half inspired Salford to their first win in four games to enhance their hopes of reaching the play-offs for the first time.

He was at the heart of all of Salford?s best moves and he had the home crowd in raptures when he somehow escaped from a two-man tackle to score a game-turning try seconds before the half-time hooter.

Harlequins were outplayed throughout and they are now firmly entrenched in a relegation battle.

Salford opened the scoring on 10 minutes when Chris Charles fed the rampaging Sean Rutgerson and the South African prop barged over from close range.

Full-back Mark McLinden was no match for Rutgerson when the two players collided on the try line and David Hodgson tagged on the extras.

The Reds looked certain to score again when Andrew Dunemann delivered a devilish kick over the top.

Salford full-back Karl Fitzpatrick was first to it but he failed to ground the ball properly when under pressure from Chad Randall.

Harlequins had another close shave when Robinson was stopped inches short of the try line following a storming 50-metre break.

Andy Coley then had a try disallowed with the Salford prop adjudged to have stepped in touch before putting the ball down.

The same fate was bestowed on McLinden moments later. The Harlequins try was ruled out for blatant obstruction in the build-up.

The half ended with the aforementioned dazzling piece of skill from Robinson.

Hodgson kicked the conversion to give the Reds a 12-0 interval lead.

Salford moved further ahead at the start of the second half thanks to Fitzpatrick?s impressive vision.

He found Kevin McGuinness in the clear with a gorgeous grubber kick, and the Australian centre?s pace did the rest.

Hodgson continued his 100 per cent record with the boot and he was on target again when man mountain Gareth Haggerty bagged a trademark score from close in.

Haggerty?s try confirmed Salford?s first win in four games.

Coley and Aaron Moule then romped over late on to add some gloss to Salford?s success.

Hodgson converted one of the tries to complete a 10-point haul.

Salford City Reds: Fitzpatrick, Hodgson, McGuinness, Moule, Langi, Dunemann, Robinson, Rutgerson, Alker, Lima, Coley, Littler, Charles. Replacements: Highton, Haggerty, Gower, Wilshere.

Harlequins RL: McLinden, Wells, Gafa, Smith, Bradley-Qalilawa, Dorn, Leuluai, Mills, Randall, Heckenberg, Noone, Hopkins, Paul. Replacements: Williams, Haumono, Budworth, Tookey.

Salford City Reds (12) 34. Tries: Rutgerson, Robinson, McGuinness, Haggerty, Coley, Moule. Goals: Hodgson 5.

Harlequins RL (0) 0.

Referee: P Taberner (Wigan)

Att: 3,046

Source: superleague.co.uk