Askam v Salford

You have to take your hat off to Salford City Roosters, who despite the 64-16 defeat against Askam, put up a brave show after arriving at Fallowfield Park with just eleven players

What looked like being a record-breaking score in the making at 48-0 at half-time, was averted thanks to a determined display from the Manchester side who shared the points 16-all in the second half.

Joe Satterthwaite and Sam Dowsett were at the heart of several raids for the home side. Dowsett bagged a brace of tries with the addition of seven conversions.

The Roosters’ defence couldn’t cope with Askam as they threw the ball around the field with the two-man advantage, which was actually a three-man advantage for a spell in the first period, with winger George Kemp taking a breather following a facial injury.

Swift play in the fourth minute from left to right saw Satterthwaite and Mark Tyson combine for Gary Bolton to romp in from 25 yards, Dowsett adding the goal for 6-0.

Salford then put a raid together resulting in Mark Jones crossing, only to lose the ball in the process.

Askam doubled their tally minutes later with Satterthwaite releasing Jake Spedding who broke clear, and on his shoulder was Satterthwaite to touch down. Dowsett tagged on the goal.

It was Dowsett who was crossing the line on fifteen minutes. The lively hooker broke on half-way. He was half halted three yards out by George, but managed to break free to touch down and convert.

A further raid saw Dan Sayle hauled down by Kemp a foot short as the tackles ran out and George left the field after taking a knock to his face.

Then came a fine try for the Villagers. Tom Askew, in at full-back for Russ Bolton and having a good all round game, took a deep kick upfield to burst through the cover and send Jack Cairns streaking over out wide.

Dowsett made no mistake with his kick at goal for 24-0.

The Roosters barely had ball in hand as they tried to cope with Askam’s free-flowing play.

Askew took the scoreline to 30-0 when he took a neat ball from Satterthwaite to round full-back Tom Smith.

Dowsett tagged on the extra two points on the half hour.

Two successive raids saw the Roosters go close.

Prop Kevin Wilson was stopped inches short followed by a dangerous kick over the line which was picked up by Tom Butler. A counter-attack saw Askam increase their lead. Sayle and Tyson provided the space for Spedding to race over, with Dowsett adding the goal.

Spedding was soon romping in for his second courtesy of Satterthwaite and Askew exchanging passes, with Dowsett goaling.

And to round off the first half scoring Tom Butler rose high to take a kick and touch down. Tyson added the goal. It was a different Roosters in the second half as they came out with determination ably assisted by more ball in hand and playing good attacking rugby.

But it was the Villagers who were to add to their tally with Wilkinson, Sattherthwaite and Askew linking to send Tom Butler over the whitewash. Tyson added the goal for 54-0 on 51 minutes.

The Roosters came back strongly, throwing the ball around and with Askam not at their best, and on 62 minutes, with cheers from the home supporters, touched down through the returning George, who went in at the corner. Alex Edwards added the goal.

This spurred them on and they took a second half lead at 12-6 when Askew failed to gather a kick and allowed Jones to score and Edwards to convert for 54-12. Gary Bolton added a further home try with Dowsett landing a towering goal from the touchline. Dowsett then went in from close range, but missed the conversion from under the posts.

And to round off the scoring centre Higgins was rewarded for his efforts with a try

Mom Sam Dowsett
Players Player Kier Shepherd