Salford (6) 18
Tries: Parker, Wilshere, Paul Goals: Wilshere 3 Harlequins (30) 48
Tries: Melling 3, Howell 2, Mbu, Randall, Dorn, Heckenberg Goals: Orr 6
 Melling's first-half hat-trick did the damage for Quins |
A first-half hat-trick from Chris Melling helped Harlequins to an emphatic victory as Salford suffered their third defeat of the season. The visitors hit the ground running, racing to a 30-6 lead at the break thanks to tries from Melling, David Howell and Joe Mbu. Salford made more of a fight of it after the break with Jon Wilshere and Robbie Paul both going over. But three late tries won it for Quins and took them to fifth in the table.  | 606: DEBATE |
Both sides were missing key players because of injury, but Salford suffered a late blow when Richie Myler was ruled out with a broken hand, and the Reds went behind within two minutes. Danny Orr's kick into the corner set up Melling's first score on 90 seconds, and within two minutes Howell had added two more, one from a Luke Dorn grubber kick and the second set up by Tony Clubb. Mbu compounded their agony as Quins stretched their lead to 22-0, and although the Reds staunched the flow for 10 minutes, Melling soon completed his hat-trick. Captain Rob Parker put the Reds on the scoreboard just before the break, but it was not enough to prevent the Reds going off the pitch to a chorus of disapproval from the home fans. They were invigorated after the break, with Karl Fitzpatrick setting up Paul's try and having another disallowed. Wilshere also went over to give the home fans something to cheer, but Chad Randall's quick thinking rocked the Reds back on their heels as he ran in the visitors' seventh try. Four minutes from time, ex-Red Dorn went over for an eighth touchdown, before Daniel Heckenberg completed the romp.
Salford coach Shaun McRae: "Perhaps the win over Celtic Crusaders was a false dawn. "The supporters are entitled to be upset and angry, I am. Perhaps we do owe them an apology. "They want to see effort and performance. They saw effort but not performance although we did show more character in the second half. "We know the problems, it's up to us to find the solution. Defensively we are not at the races and we are not coping with the speed of our opponents." Harlequins coach Brian McDermott: "The first-half display was as clinical as I've seen since I've been at the club. "We had a bit of luck with the bounce of the ball but were able to create a roll-on although it was disappointing to concede a try just before half-time. "Salford looked more enthusiastic in the second half, had a real dig and nearly got on top of us."
Salford: Fitzpatrick, Wilshere, Littler, Turner, Ratchford, Smith, Paul, Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Adamson, Parker, Swain. Replacements: Nash for Cashmere (21), Leuluai for Stapleton (20), Sidlow for Adamson (31), Walton for Swain (33). Harlequins: Wells, Melling, Gafa, Howell, Sharp, Dorn, Orr, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Randall, Ward, Robinson, Clubb, Mbu. Replacements: Grayshon for Orr (52), Heckenberg for McCarthy-Scarsbrook (17), Gale for Randall (33), Golden for Clubb (50). Att: 3,367 Ref: J Leahy (Dewsbury).
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