www.reds.co.uk technical difficulties

Hi folks..

Massive annoyance at our end. The official website www.reds.is currently offline due to server difficulties at our provider’s end that has meant it has had to be temporarily switched off.

I’m waiting to hear from their tech people with a view to resolving it but as yet it’s out of our hands.

This blog address will continue to operate as it’s hosted elsewhere so please feel free to pass on the details to anybody and we will update our Northern Rail Cup ticketing news running.

Apologies,

Paul

NRC Final Ticket Update

Firstly, apologies if you were caught up in the long queues at the ticket office tonight trying to buy cup final tickets – the Ticket Office staff did a fantastic job under pressure, but unfortunately the numbers buying did mean the wait for some was a little longer than we would have liked.

Of course, it is a nice problem to have.

We have now sold out of our original allocations and are well into our final additional allocation. Blocks L, K, J, H, G & F are completely sold out, the only blocks now with tickets remaining are C & D behind the goals, and there are limited numbers remaining in each (from memory I think block D is also almost sold out now).

The train and coach travel also sold very well tonight and both are well on the way to sell outs.

With the success of the tickets and travel, as well as a thrilling win, I’d say tonight was a great night for the club all round. Hope you are all looking forward to our next game in Blackpool next weekend!

27/06/08: Reds 30-24 Halifax (NL1)

It may have been a nail-biting finish but the Red stormed back to the top of National League 1 with a victory over the then-leaders Halifax. In a devastating first half hour the Reds roared into a 24-0 lead but a magnificent comeback from perhaps the best attacking side in the competition so far, saw Halifax claw the game back to an amazing 24-24, before Stefan Ratchford clinched it for Salford with a winning try shortly before Fax’s Sean Penkywicz saw red for persistant dissent.

Match Report courtesy of our partner Manchester Evening News.
Click logo for more local news.

Ben Collins
28/ 6/2008

SALFORD bounced back to the top of National League One after this thrilling victory at the Willows last night.

The City Reds looked on course for a comfortable win with a devastating spell of four tries in 14 minutes giving them a 24-6 half-time lead.

Halifax launched a stirring second-half fightback to draw level, though, and Salford needed a 62nd-minute try from replacement Stefan Ratchford to regain top spot as they lost concentration.

Halifax had leap-frogged Salford last week after the City Reds lost 20-18 at Widnes to suffer their second defeat in three league matches. But Shaun McRae’s men stopped the rot with a hard-fought victory that provides them with a timely boost ahead of next week’s Northern Rail Cup Final against Doncaster.

Salford made a shaky start, with Jordan Turner putting the kick-off out on the full, and they breathed a sigh of relief when James Haley’s try was ruled out as the Halifax winger stepped into touch.

Halifax kept the pressure on for the opening 10 minutes but were left reeling after Salford’s four-try blitz Adam Sidlow had replaced Steve Nash in Salford’s only change to last week’s starting line-up and it was the second-rower’s offload that allowed Karl Fitzpatrick to open the scoring in the 13th minute.

John Wilshere added the extras and just three minutes later laid on Salford’s second try, jinking down the right and passing inside for Matt Gardner to charge over from 40 metres. Another three minutes later and Haley spilled Robbie Paul’s grubber kick 20 metres out, with Paul in support to score under the posts.

The visitors then had some brief respite before Salford battered the Halifax line in the 27th minute until Stuart Littler barged over from close range.

Halifax hit back with Graham Holroyd sending Haley over in the 36th minute before adding two more tries just after the break.

Paul Smith’s offload sent Shad Royston over, with Jon Goddard supporting Ben Black’s break to score in the 46th minute. Black laid off for Mark Flanagan to score from close range in the 59th minute and Holroyd added the extras to draw the scores level.

Salford finally regrouped and a brilliant offload by the impressive Fitzpatrick allowed Ratchford to put them back in front just three minutes later.

Each side had openings in a nervy, scrappy finish but Salford held on, with replacement Paul Highton held up late on and Ratchford hitting a drop-goal attempt narrowly wide at the death.

NRC Final Travel Update

We have this morning managed to arrange with Northern Rail to extend the train to Blackpool by a further two carriages, taking the capacity to 600 and meaning a further 150 places are going on sale this afternoon, again priced at the ridiculously low £5.

We expect these to sell quickly, so if you want one or more we would suggest buying this afternoon or at tonight’s game!

Support the Reds At The Trafford Centre

Salford City Reds will Join Northern Rail at the Trafford Centre tomorrow (Sat 28 June) to promote next Sundays Northern Rail Cup Final next Sunday.

Players will be present between 1pm and 3pm at the bandstand in the Orient, and there will be an opportunity to win VIP tickets to the final next Sunday, so be sure to register at the promotional site tomorrow.

NRC Final Travel Update – Train now SOLD OUT, Coach Travel ON SALE NOW

Quick update.

The train has now completely sold out.

Just gone on sale is coach travel. This is again being run on a not for profit basis, and seats cost £10 per person.

The coach(es) will leave The Willows at 11.30am, and will set off back from Blackpool at 5.30pm. Tickets are sold on first come, first served basis, spaces are limited and expected to sell out quickly at that price!

Thanks.

NRC Final – Ticket & Travel update

Hello.

Apologies for the lack of update in the last couple of days.

I’ll deal with the train first. We managed to up the capacity to 450. At the time of writing there are 444 sold and only six places remaining, so if you want to go on the train please buy now! We are considering running coaches once the train has sold out, if there is sufficient demand, so register your interest now.

Tickets have continued to sell well both here and at Doncaster, and we have now almost completely sold out our second allocation. We have requested additional tickets from the RFL but have only been allowed an additional 250 behind the goal. It would appear that is all we will be able to get.

We once again urge fans to reconsider if they are thinking of taking their chances and paying on the day
- partly as the Reds benefit much more significantly from sales directly from the club, but also as there are no guarantees that there will be any tickets available to buy on the day, and we would hate for any of our supporters to be disappointed!

Thanks.

City Reds Bring in the Cable Guys

Salford City Reds are delighted to welcome new sponsor HD Cable to The Willows, who will become Associate Sponsors for the 2009 season with the company logo appearing on next seasons playing shorts.

HD Cable is one of the UK’s leading companies in the HDTV connectivity market, offering the highest quality performance cable products at substantially less than the stores, sold directly to the consumer via their website www.hdcable.co.uk.

Starting the business at just 21 years of age, Chris Pinder & Lianne Price have become two of Salford’s most successful young entrepreneurs. Their achievements in business were recognised at this year’s Salford Business Awards where they picked up ‘Business of the Year’, the premier award of the evening.

Chris Pinder, MD of HD Cable commented, “I am extremely proud of HD Cable’s Salfordian set-up, I have no desire to be classified as simply a Manchester firm and hopefully our partnership with the Reds will highlight that fact. We both share a highly ambitious vision for the future and I’m excited that we can now be involved with that, even in just a small way. The Reds are truly at the heart of Salford and I feel a great sense of pride to be able to give the club our support and to have our brand associated with them.”

Similarly to Reds’ Chairman, John Wilkinson, OBE, their business started out of the spare room of their home just off Langworthy Road in Salford. However, it quickly grew out of that space into rented offices and warehouse space in Irlam. The company has recently acquired an old stationary suppliers building just down the road from the new stadium in Barton. The building is currently undergoing renovation work to become HD Cable’s new headquarters, due to be completed in just a couple of months time.

Reds’ Director Trish Goldsmith, commented, “I am delighted to welcome Chris and Lianne as new sponsors to Salford City Reds. HD Cable is a bright up and coming company and just the kind of partnership we wish to develop at Salford City Reds. Everyone at The Club is looking forward to a strong, positive and creative partnership with Chris & Lianne and it is our intention to support HD Cable in their business endeavors for many, many years to come.”

Salford City Radio tonight (Weds)

Just Parky and myself on Rugby Roundup this evening ahead of next week’s big pre-Cup Final show.

We have an interview with Shaun McRae where he discusses licences, Widnes defeat and the Halifax game.

Plus we’ll have the latets team news and generally chatting about the world of Rugby League over the past seven days

Sooooooo

6-7PM 94.4FM or listen online at www.salfordcityradio.org

See you on the wireless

Reserves Match Report – Reds 0 Widnes 18

Report by Frank Grundy

A much changed Reds side struggled throughout to complete their sets and spent long stretches having to defend. Conditions were very wet making handling difficult and the Reds struggled to put any decent attacking moves together. The first score came after 17 minutes when Widnes kicked a penalty to go 0-2 up.

Widnes continued to adapt to the conditions better than Salford and it took an excellent catch from Reds winger Darren Fletcher to prevent Widnes going over. The Reds continued to be their own worst enemy, constantly coughing up possession and putting themselves under pressure. Fullback Jonny Youds mounted his own version of Custer’s Last Stand on the try line, but eventually the dam was breached on 25 minutes by the Widnes winger for a converted try. No further points were scored in a dreadful half from both sides that ended 0-8.

8 minutes into the second half Widnes increased their lead through a try by their prop forward which was converted to make the score 0-14. Still the Reds were failing to complete their sets and just could not get good field position as a result of their own errors and were without doubt their own worst enemy throughout. A superb run by Reds prop Andy Waring gave them hope, but again they squandered position when within 10 metres of the Widnes line. This passage of play was the one bright spot in a terrible game, with the Reds having shown a glimpse of what they are capable of followed by Widnes’ best move of the game, sweeping down the field with some excellent passing to score the final points of the game with an unconverted try.

The Reds simply never came to terms with a greasy ball and blustery wind, so never managed to mount any serious pressure on Widnes. A very disappointing display all round.

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