Fans Love Valentine Cup Cracker

Folly Lane won a tough encounter with Irlam Hornets 22-20 at The Willows on Wednesday night to win the historic Valentine Cup which was making a welcome return to the city for the first time in eight years.

There was a carnival atmosphere at the ground as more than 600 fans were out to support both teams in a cup thriller which was a great advert for the level of amateur rugby league in the city and a fitting tribute to the history of the cup.

The Valentine Cup competition has proven to be a popular addition to community rugby league calendar and we are delighted it has made a return

In a closely fought match, Folly took an early lead when James Wells went over but the conversion was missed. Irlam equalised in the 19th minute and again the conversion missed, keeping the score tied at 4-4.

Folly regained the lead shortly after with a try from Rob Mack and a further try from Mike Smith, the first successful kick of the night was put over by John Carew to make the score 14-4 in the 25th minute.

Lomas scored for Irlam in the 27th minute but another kick sailed wide. Both teams scored again before the half. Paul Morton with a John Carew conversion for Folly and Salisbury with a converted try for Irlam left the half time score 20-14 to Folly Lane.

Folly Lane Captain Peter Simpson celebrates with the famous old trophy after their win.

The second half was a tough uncompromising event which saw the Hornets score early with a converted try after just three minutes to tie the scores at 20-20.

There were no further points until the 66th minute when a John Carew penalty earned what proved to be the crucial two points. Although Irlam piled on the pressure there was some resolute defending by Folly who also threatened themselves on a number of occasions. The final score Folly Lane 22 Irlam Hornets 20.

Hosted by Salford City Reds Foundation, their Director, John Blackburn, hailed the cup final as a fantastic success:
“The Valentine Cup competition has proven to be a popular addition to community rugby league calendar and we are delighted it has made a return,” said John.

“The evening was a major success and we hope the competition will go from strength to strength with more teams competing in the coming years.”

Lottery Winners (26 Aug)

Now’s the time to find out if you are one of this week’s big winners on the Reds’ Golden Bond lottery. Each week you could win up to £10000 for a single £1 stake…think of how you could spend that money this Summer. Read more

Bomber Expects High-Scoring Cup Final

Former Carnegie Challenge Cup winner and Salford City Reds Head Coach, Shaun McRae,  is relishing Saturday’s Wembley showpiece between Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants and thinks the end of the recent St Helens monopoly on the famous old silverware can only be a boost for the sport.

There are internationals, State of Origin and NRL Grand Final winners out there and I’m sure referee Steve Ganson will let the game flow. It could be quite an event.

“It could be a really good Final – it’s just too close to call,” said McRae.

“You’d possibly say that Warrington Wolves have more flair players but both sides have match winners. Huddersfield have been to another Cup Final more recently so have got experience in the camp of the whole Final experience.

“There are internationals, State of Origin and NRL Grand Final winners out there and I’m sure referee Steve Ganson will let the game flow. It could be quite an event. I think it will be a really fast game with a lot of points in it,” he added.

Vote Now For Supporter’s Player Of The Year

It’s that time of year again where you must vote for your Supporter’s Player of the Year award, which will be presented at our Awards Nights on Friday 4 September.

Tickets for the event are free and we are looking to pack out The Willows Variety Centre, just as we did at the start of the season, to show our appreciation for momentous victories over St Helens, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls and Hull FC amongst all the other great memories.

We will also be wishing some familiar faces a fond farewell as they continue with the careers and lives away from The Willows.

Last year’s sensation, Craig Stapleton who swept the board with all the Awards are sure to be in the running once more, as will the other power runners Ray Cashmere and Big Phil.

Top tacklers Alker, Adamson and Swain could there or there abouts, while Mark Henry and Richie Myler have scored 25 tries between them.

So the decision is yours. Collect your FREE tickets from the Club Shop and don’t forget to email us your vote. We will need your FULL details for your vote to be accepted, along with the player of your choice.

Send your

Name:

Address:

Mobile:

Email:

Player name:

to playeroftheyear@reds.co.uk

Voting closes at midnight 31st August so you don’t have long.

Valentine Cup Final at the Willows

One of the oldest and most valuable cups in the game, the Valentines Cup makes a welcome return to Salford this week. Read more

Reds Lose Out In Willows Thriller

Salford City Reds lost a thrilling game at The Willows as Hull KR moved up to third with a narrow 10-14 win. In one of the most entertaining games of the season the score was 6-8 until the final two minutes of the game before Hull stretched their lead to 6-14 before Ratchford replied on the hooter but it was too late. There was also a debut for 18 year old local product Jack Spencer from Folly Lane as the youngster had a night to remember in the big time.

Match Report

Hull KR maintained their timely run of form as they held off brave Salford to clinch a fourth straight win.

An entertaining first half was dominated by solid defence from both sides before Clint Newton broke the deadlock with a 36th-minute try.

Salford drew level after Adam Sidlow’s 48th-minute try but Michael Dobson’s 55th-minute penalty edged Rovers back in front before Shaun Briscoe crossed late on.

Ratchford claimed a consolation at the death but that could not halt Rovers’ charge into the Super League play-offs.

Salford star Richie Myler was named in their 19-man squad having been rested the last two games amid speculation over an end-of-season move to Warrington.

The England scrum-half missed out on the final 17, though, as Shaun McRae kept faith with a winning side – but for suspended prop Stapleton coming back for young Jason Walton.

Stefan Ratchford continued at scrum-half and put pressure on immediately, kicking a 40-20 before Stapleton’s offload went to ground.

Rovers replied with Mark Henry having to shepherd out a Michael Dobson kick, while Dean McGilvray made a meal of another Dobson kick to concede a goal-line drop-out.

Salford got back on the front foot and forced two drop-outs in quick succession, each from Liam Colbon fielding Ratchford kicks.

Salford’s Stuart Littler was stopped short after a break down the right, while an excellent tackle by Shaun Briscoe kept out Henry on the opposite flank.

Littler then hacked on for fully 80 metres after blocking a Paul Cooke kick, only for Peter Fox to track back, while Rovers scrambled superbly to keep out Salford after Phil Leuluai’s offload to Jeremy Smith.

Colbon tapped out for another drop-out but a Salford penalty for offside on halfway allowed Rovers to open the scoring, Newton making an inside run to score under the posts from Dobson’s pass.

Dobson added the extras to give Rovers a 6-0 half-time lead, but Salford soon levelled after the interval.

Fox had to palm out Karl Fitzpatrick’s kick for a scrum before Sidlow took Robbie Paul’s pass to power over from close range.

John Wilshere made the kick but Rovers regained the lead through Dobson’s 15-metre penalty after Stapleton was sin-binned for a late charge on the Australian scrum-half.

Ben Cockayne was also yellow-carded for charging the kicker, although Cooke’s 40-20 relieved the pressure.

Dobson’s grubber forced a repeat set from Fitzpatrick before the Salford full-back did well to halt Colbon’s charge to the line.

The pressure told as Briscoe sealed the win by finishing off from Dobson’s pass before Ratchford touched down from Jeremy Smith’s kick.

Match Facts

Salford:
Fitzpatrick, Wilshere, Henry, Littler, McGilvray, Smith, Ratchford, Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Sibbit, Adamson, Swain. Replacements: Leuluai, Paul, Sidlow, Spencer.

Hull KR:
Briscoe, Fox, Welham, Webster, Colbon, Cooke, Dobson, Fozzard, Fisher, Vella, Newton, Galea, Cockayne. Replacements: Netherton, Aizue, I’Anson, Walker.

Referee: J Leahy (Dewsbury)

Tickets Now Available For Awards Night

Salford City Reds are pleased to announce that this season’s Player of the Year Awards will take place at The Willows on Friday 4 September.

Tickets for the event are FREE and are available now from the Club Shop as well as after the game this evening. In a break from the usual formal dinner, the event will now be now be a Fans Night, and the door’s will open at 7pm for a prompt 7.30 start.

After the awards there will be a DJ and disco if you fancy staying along for a bit of an end-of-season boogie.

With all the awards up for grabs, voting for the coveted ‘Supporter’s Player of the Year’ will begin online early next week.

We look forward to another great end of season shindig.

Camps Are Runaway Success

Salford City Reds’ Foundation summer camps have proved a huge success, attracting hundreds of school children to sessions held throughout the City of Salford during the summer holidays. Read more

Rovers Return For Turner And Myler

Reds’ Head Coach Shaun McRae throws Jordan Turner back into his 19-man mix for Friday’s clash with Hull KR at The Willows as both teams look to follow up remarkable wins last weekend. The Reds are looking to add another prestigious scalp to this season’s collection having already seen off the top three sides in the engage Super League but know that Rovers are looking to finish the season strongly and cement their best ever league position in the competition.

Australian Craig Stapleton will return to front line duty having completed his one-match suspension for dissent and Turner comes in to replace Jason Walton. Phil Leuluai is expected to drop back to the bench despite McRae singing his praises after the big Samoan made his first start of the season at Harlequins.

“Phil did pretty well last week, he’s a big powerful guy and he caused them problems. With Craig Stapleton coming back our forwards are a lot stronger and we can use our impact players the way we’d like to.”

The last time Hull KR visited The Willows Leuluai made his debt, less than 24 hours after stepping off the plane from Sydney and he remembers the occasion with a smile : “I remember being so tired I was virtually asleep on the bench and all I seemed to be doing was running backwards and tackling, backwards and tackling. I’m hoping things are going to be a bit different on Friday night!,” joked Phil.

Reds’ 19-Man squad to face Hull KR:
Wilshere, Henry, Littler, Turner, McGilvray, Smith, Ratchford, Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Adamson, Sidlow, Swain, Paul, Sibbit, Leuluai, Nash, Fitzpatrick, Myler.

Leuluai: Need To Match It Against Big Men

Salford City Reds’ prop Phil Leuluai believes that all 17 Reds players are going to have match Hull KR blow for blow at The Willows on Friday if they are to topple the in-form Robins from their fourth placed perch. Fresh from a victory over St Helens, Hull KR know that the Reds have already beaten the top three sides in the competition this season and will be hell-bent on making it the top four.

Leuluai, who made his first start of the season after playing every other game from the bench due to the suspension of Craig Stapleton is expecting to return to the dugout and be used once again as an impact forward as former Cronulla team-mate Stapleton goes straight back into the action.

Speaking with one of the Reds heroes from last weekends shock victory over Harlequins, Steve Nash, Leuluai said: “Realistically if we are going to win it Nash and myself are going to have to come off the bench and match it with their big-men. Hopefully we get on and we’re still in the game and we can try and turn it even more in our favour and come away with another two points that nobody is expecting us to get.”

Nash meanwhile is still celebrating his first ever Super League try, scored in the dying minutes and seconds before he also set up the winning score for Luke Swain in a devastating five minute period for the former Widnes youngster.

“It was a great feeling -- I think you could tell that I enjoyed it by the way I threw the ball up in the air. I think if we can stay in the game and match them on Friday coming into the last 20 minutes we have a real chance. We have been good in the last 10-20 minutes of games lately so we just need to be in with a shot towards the end,” said Nash.

To see the full interview with Phil Leuluai and Steve Nash on RedPlanetTV, click the video link below.

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