Salford (8) 26
Tries: Gibson 2, Anderson, Broughton, Henry
Goals: Holdsworth 3
Harlequins (6) 18
Tries: Sarginson 2, Clubb Goals: Gale 3

Ashley Gibson's double helped Salford come from behind to claim a hard-fought 26-18 win over Harlequins.

Teenager Dan Sarginson scored twice on his debut for struggling Quins, who led 18-14 with seven minutes left to scent only a second win in 15 matches.

A goal area mix-up gifted Quins' Tony Clubb a try that appeared decisive.

But Mark Henry and Gibson crossed in the closing stages to give Salford their fourth win in five and keep alive their hopes of a play-off spot.

Salford are now just a point outside the top eight, heading into next Friday's date with the team just one place above them, Hull, at the KC Stadium.

Quins made four changes following last week's 34-0 home defeat by Hull KR, handing a Super League debut to 18-year-old Sarginson at left centre.

The Hemel Hempstead-born teenager took just eight minutes to make his mark, stepping inside off Kyle Briggs' pass to cut inside and touch down next to the posts.

But Quins forward Lee Mitchell fumbled the restart into touch, allowing Salford the chance to hit straight back when Gibson crashed over from Adam Sidlow's pass.

Sidlow then had enough time and space on the left to send Vinnie Anderson over.

Holdsworth again missed the kick to leave Salford 8-6 up before the Reds failed to capitalise on two successive penalties.

The visitors would make them pay from a penalty of their own in the 53rd minute, Sarginson touching down Andy Ellis' grubber, Luke Gale adding the extras.

Salford regained the lead when Ratchford released Jodie Broughton, who cut in from the left to claim his 14th try of the season, Holdsworth making the kick to ironic cheers.

But a mix-up between Broughton and Patten handed Clubb a 63rd-minute try, Gale putting Quins 18-14 up.

Salford struck back when Henry managed to squeeze in at the corner from Holdsworth's looping pass, Holdsworth making a touchline conversion to edge Salford in front.

A sweeping move then resulted in Patten sending Gibson over to clinch victory.

Salford caretaker coach Phil Veivers:

"A couple of results have gone our way tonight so we're all starting to circle round the play-offs. It's another win. We've just got to keep knocking off those W's.

"We were pretty poor tonight, and that's not taking anything away from Harlequins. They came here with a gameplan and stuck to it.

"In the first half we were pretty ordinary. And, in the second half we came up with some uncharacteristic mistakes so we had to claw our back but eventually we got the result. That's all I'm bothered about at the moment but we've plenty of areas to work on."

Harlequins coach Rob Powell:

"It was great to see Dan score twice on his debut. I thought it was a fantastic effort for a young, busted-up team.

"I felt the game turned on a late penalty decision but we gave it our all.

"The run we're on is frustrating more than anything. But we showed tonight that there is enough quality in our team to win games."

Salford: Patten; Broughton, Anderson, Gibson, Henry; Ratchford, Holdsworth; Cashmere, Smith, Boyle, Sidlow, Nero, L Adamson.

Replacements: Neal, Sneyd, Jewitt, Paleaaesina.

Harlequins: O'Callaghan; Calderwood, Clubb, Sarginson, Pryce; Briggs, Gale; Ward, Ellis, Temata, Burnett, Mitchell, Bailey.

Replacements: Krasniqi, Ambler, Purdham. Not used: Williams.

Attendance: 3,065.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury).

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