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Salford 20 St Helens 10

Stefan Ratchford touched down twice and was inspirational throughout as struggling Salford recorded a famous victory over engage Super League leaders St Helens.

The rangy half-back, 21 later this month, claimed his two tries in the first 10 minutes and full-back John Wilshere converted both to put the Reds 12-0 up.

Wigan 40 Harlequins 12

WIGAN ran in eight tries as they brushed aside a feeble Harlequins side in the engage Super League tonight.

The Londoners had already conceded early tries to Pat Richards, Mark Riddell and Karl Pryce when David Howell was sent off for a dangerous head-high tackle on Sam Tomkins.

Skipper stirs up Salford

SKIPPER Mal Alker today tried to deflect the focus away from Richard Myler by calling for Salford to finish the season on a high.

The Reds have not won since they beat Bradford at home in May and look up against it once more tonight when they take on St Helens at the Willows.

Leigh roll out carpet for Millward

IAN Millward will return from Australia to take over as head coach of Leigh Centurions in October.

Millward, 48, will be leaving Canberra Raiders to return to the club where he started his coaching career.

Adrian Morley column

BASIL is back! Ian Millward's return to Leigh next season as coach is a real turn-up for the books.

It's surprised a lot of people and it just goes to show that no one what will happen next in this crazy game of ours.

Brough blow for Reds

SALFORD REDS have suffered a setback as they look to replace scrum-half Richard Myler, who is almost certain to leave at the end of the season.

Potential target Danny Brough is set to leave Wakefield at the end of the campaign but he is expected to join the Huddersfield Giants.

Wilkinson confident over Barton

SALFORD City fans have been assured by chairman John Wilkinson the move to a new stadium at Barton by 2011 will definitely happen.

Wilkinson says the scheme is not in jeopardy and, ideally, he wants the Reds to spend just one more season in Super League before moving.

Wilkinson's battle to keep Myler

WIGAN and Saints are set to rival Warrington Wolves for Richard Myler's signature at the end of the Super League season.

Wolves face keen competition for the 19-year-old Salford scrum-half who has turned down a lucrative four-year contract from the City Reds.

Noble finds the formula

WIGAN coach Brian Noble said his team's 36-28 victory against Hull KR was evidence that they they had coped admirably in a week full of negative headlines.

The Warriors came out fighting after a turbulent seven days which saw Gareth Hock test positive for cocaine and the Wigan boss' own future at the club become the subject of much speculation.

Salford 10 Huddersfield 34

SALFORD were handed a home drubbing by a Huddersfield side Reds coach Shaun McRae described as "clinical".

McRae, whose side have seven of their 11 remaining fixtures to be played at The Willows, said: “They were just strong from the start. We needed to get a bit more possession and a bit more field position and it never happened.

Warrington 24 Hull 12

HULL missed the chance to leapfrog revival club Warrington in seventh spot in engage Super League as they slipped to a 24-12 defeat at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The sides were level at 6-6 at the break but the Wolves ran in three tries in 10 minutes after the interval to make it five wins in their last six league matches.

St Helens 30 Celtic 0

ST Helens produced a first-half masterclass with four tries to move a step closer towards finishing top of the engage Super League for the fifth successive year.

Bottom club Celtic Crusaders, who were missing several first-choice players through injury but lacked nothing in spirit, began brightly but had no answer to their hosts' superior class.

Noble focused on Wigan

WIGAN coach Brian Noble has brushed off the latest round of speculation over his future by insisting he is fully focused on the Warriors' season.

Reports this week claimed New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney had turned down an approach to succeed Noble, whose contract expires at the end of the campaign, in 2010.

Adamson set to sign

SALFORD Reds' highly-rated young forward Luke Adamson has confirmed he is set to sign a new three-year contract.

Adamson is intent on staying and wants to further enhance his reputation as a back row forward. Adamson told M.E.N. Sport: "We are very close to striking a new deal and I want to stay."

Adrian Morley column

I'M bitterly disappointed to think that my mate Gareth Hock is facing the daunting prospect of being banned from playing professional rugby league for two years.

Gaz is a great player - I admire him and I respect him but if he has taken drugs, as alleged, then his actions cannot be condoned and he must be punished accordingly.

Wigan's Hock suspended

THE Rugby Football League have suspended Wigan and England forward Gareth Hock after he tested positive for a banned substance.

The 25-year-old second rower was found to have Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in his system after he was tested following Wigan's home match against Salford earlier this month.

Gidley extends Saints stay

FORMER Australia Test centre Matt Gidley has ended speculation over his future by signing a new 12-month contract to stay at St Helens for next season.

Gidley, who turns 32 next week, has scored 37 tries in 84 appearances and created as many for winger Ade Gardner since joining the club as a replacement for Jamie Lyon in 2006.

Salford's Cowboys hit back

TWO former Cowboys stars have shown true grit to earn their spurs with the Salford City Reds.

The club's Aussie duo Ray Cashmere and Mark Henry have had glowing praise heaped on them by football director Steve Simms for sticking to their guns and silencing the critics.

Myler rejects Salford offer - report

SALFORD scrum-half Richie Myler has turned down a new contract offer from the club, according to his agent Martin Offiah.

England international Myler, 19, is one of the hottest young properties in the game after bursting onto the engage Super League scene this year.

Barker's blog

NOBODY knows the north west rugby league scene better than M.E.N. sport's Neil Barker, and now he has started a blog to share his vast knowledge of the game.

Click here to view his first post on England star Paul Wellens and to have your say. Neil will be blogging regularly so remember to check back for any updates, gossip and links he puts up.

Saints smash Bulls' record

ST HELENS coach Mick Potter singled out James Roby and Maurie Fa'asavalu for praise after they helped to orchestrate a record-breaking 44-18 demolition of engage Super League rivals Bradford.

The result gave Saints their 16th successive away win to smash Bradford's record of 15 straight victories set in 1997.

El of a game for Wolves!

WARRINGTON Wolves reigned in Spain but it was no beach party for Tony Smith's men.

The Challenge Cup semi-finalists had to come from behind to win the first engage Super League match staged in Spain.

Hull 14 Salford 12

SALFORD suffered another Super League set-back at Hull last night – then braced themselves for a massive bid for their talented scrum-half Richard Myler.

The teenage sensation is being lined up by Warrington Wolves to replace Lee Briers for next season.

Myler should stay - Nash

STAY with Salford and sign an extended contract is Steve Nash's advice to Reds' England star Richard Myler.

Nash was Great Britain's first choice scrum-half while playing for Salford in the 1970s - he feels there's no need for Myler to join a top club in order to better himself.

Salford set for Myler fight

SALFORD City Reds will do their best to hang onto England wonder boy Richard Myler.

But coach Shaun McRae admits it won't be easy fending off interest from their engage Super League rivals.

Myler stars in England win

SALFORD ace Richard Myler inspired Engalnd to a 66-12 victory over France in a one-sided mid-season international in Paris on Saturday night.

Coach Tony Smith was looking for a pick-me-up after England's dismal World Cup campaign last October and he fielded a young side full of in-form players for a match with the under-strength French.

They did Smith proud, 19-year-old Salford scrum-half Myler claiming a hat-trick of tries, with the others coming from Ryan Atkins, Danny McGuire, Peter Fox (two), Ryan Hall, Shaun Briscoe (two), James Roby and Sam Burgess.

Briers injury setback

LEE Briers is facing another spell on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury in Sunday's Carnegie Super League defeat to the Bulls.

"It's very similar to what he did last time so I'd be surprised if he's right by next week," said director of rugby Tony Smith, who travelled back from Paris to resume his domestic duties after overseeing England's win.

Noble blasts Wigan wobblers

BRIAN Noble has blasted the attitude of his Wigan players following their shock defeat by Celtic Crusaders.

The Warriors pulled themselves back from 16-6 behind to level the scores, but a late Peter Lupton try wrapped up a 22-16 victory for the Welsh side - only their second of the season - and condemn Wigan to their third defeat in the last four matches.

St Helens 50 Castleford 10

St Helens coach Mick Potter was delighted with the contribution of teenage winger Jonny Lomax after he produced a man-of-the-match display in his side's 50-10 rout of Castleford.

Experienced internationals Sean Long, Leon Pryce and Keiron Cunningham came up with masterful displays but they were overshadowed by the 19-year-old Lomax, who was hugely impressive under the high ball and scored his second try on only his third Super League appearance.

Just the job for Jordan

JORDAN James just smiles when people suggest it can't be fun playing for Super League's poorest side.

Celtic Crusaders host Wigan Warriors on Saturday facing the prospect of a 15th defeat in 16 matches.

Goulding praises England boss

FRANCE coach Bobbie Goulding heads into Saturday's international against England full of praise for opposite number Tony Smith's selection policy.

Smith put a heavy accent on youth when he selected England's 19-man squad to take on Les Tricolores in a one-off Test in Paris.

Parker fractures skull

SALFORD forward Rob Parker suffered a fractured skull in a freak accident during the Reds' 34-18 Super League defeat at Wigan on Friday, the club have revealed.

The former Bradford and Warrington second rower sustained the injury in a collision with the elbow of team-mate Jordan Turner in one of the last tackles of the game.

Time for some Carn-age

MATT King has an old Brian Carney jersey in his memorabilia collection.But he's delighted the one-time rivals will be lining up on the same side later this month.

Former Wigan winger Carney started training with Warrington this week after his shock switch from Munster. He certainly won't be considered for Sunday's engage Super League clash with Bradford Bulls at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Salford must strike it Rich

MARTIN Offiah has urged Salford City Reds to make Richard Myler the highest paid player in the club's history.

The rugby league legend is Myler's agent and will hold talks about his future with chairman John Wilkinson and Director of Rugby, Steve Simms on Wednesday.

Adamson's double Salford aim

WITH 12 Super League games left, Salford Reds young forward Luke Adamson has set himself a double goal between now and the end of the season.

For starters, Adamson believes an eighth place finish that was targeted at the start of the season can still be obtained.

Wigan 34 Salford 18

WIGAN hit Salford with an early four-try blast to set up a comfortable engage Super League win.

George Carmont, Tim Smith, Pat Richards and Mark Riddell all crossed in the opening 16 minutes as the Warriors overpowered the Reds for a second successive week.

Castleford 18 Warrington 34

WARRINGTON head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith refused to get carried away after his side made it seven wins from eight in all competitions with this Super League victory.

The Wolves, who booked their place in the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final with a narrow win at Hull KR, trailed after Kirk Dixon and Richard Owen crossed for Cas.

Hull 6 St Helens 30

SEAN Long gave Hull's fans a tantalising glimpse of their future and a stark reminder of their present as he inspired St Helens to a record-equalling engage Super League win at the KC Stadium.

The mercurial scrum-half, one of the most decorated and recognisable players of the modern era, announced on Monday that he would be joining Hull at the end of the season after 12 years with the Saints, but there was no suggestion of any divided loyalties for the 32-year-old as he inspired Mick Potter's side to a fifth successive win.

Give Myler his break - Murphy

RICHARD Myler runs out for Salford at Wigan tonight boosted by his latest call-up to the England squad.

Salford's highly-rated 19-year-old scrum-half continues to make great progress and is in line to face France in Paris next week.

Salford Reds half-term report

It's already midway through the Super League season and Salford football director Steve Simms gives Neil Barker his verdict on how the overseas stars have fitted in.

M.E.N. rugby league reporter Neil Barker also rates the quartet of Luke Swain, Mark Henry, Ray Cashmere and Jeremy Smith

Sibbit in call for Reds to hit back

SALFORD'S Wembley dream may have been shattered but Ian Sibbit is adamant the season is not over for Shaun McRae's team.

Second-row forward Sibbit and his team-mates have admitted they did not do themselves justice in last weekend's Challenge Cup quarter-final clash.

Carney to join Wolves

GREAT Britain international Brian Carney will join up with Warrington Wolves at the end of June.

Meanwhile, Iestyn Harris, Featherstone's key man, is hoping to play after all in Thursday's televised Northern Rail Cup quarter-final clash with Oldham.

Long signs for Hull

HULL have signed St Helens scrum-half Sean Long on a two-year contract starting next season.

The 32-year-old former Great Britain international was recently given permission by Saints to speak to other clubs.

Wigan 28 Salford 6

SALFORD'S dreams of Wembley were shattered as Wigan smashed their way into the draw for the Challenge Cup semi-final.

Reds had looked like pushing the Warriors following a tight opening period but a second-half raiding party led by hat-trick hero Pat Richards and a pair of tries from Gareth Hock saw Wigan glide home.

Oldham coach Casey calls time

LEO Casey, assistant coach to Oldham Rugby League Club's reserve team, has left the club and turned his back on coaching because he is no longer enjoying it.

A former prop with both Oldham Bears and the new Oldham club, Casey wasn't at Sedgley Park on Saturday to see a new-look Roughyeds second team record a resounding 52-10 win against the league leaders.

Saints and Wolves win

ST Helens coach Mick Potter could find little fault with his players after they clinched a ninth successive Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final appearance.

Meanwhile, Warrington coach Tony Smith was delighted with the result but disappointed by his side’s performance after they pulled off a stunning 25-24 Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Hull KR.

Adamson eyes Challenge Cup surprise

SALFORD Reds star Luke Adamson is busy gearing up for a bruising pack battle with Wigan in Friday's Challenge Cup quarter-final showdown.

The tough tackling Reds back rower believes the game will be won and lost up front in the forwards.

Salford raring to go

SALFORD Reds skipper Mal Alker leads out his on-form side for a potential Challenge Cup classic quarter-final at Wigan on Friday night.

The hooker has been outstanding in guiding Reds to two Super League wins and his sights are fixed on claiming another famous scalp.

McRae's Wembley troopers

SALFORD Reds' head coach Shaun McRae is turning his thoughts to Wembley, buoyed by back-to-back Super League wins over Huddersfields Giants and Bradford Bulls.

The Reds take on Wigan at the JJB Stadium on Friday in the quarter-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Salford 18 Bradford 10

In-form Salford put Bradford Bulls to the sword in their engage Super League clash at The Willows last night.

The Bulls handed bottom club Celtic Crusaders their first ever Super League win five days ago and they were clearly nervous from the off.

Rugby league round up

There were wins for Oldham and Widnes but defeat for Rochdale on Sunday.

Adrian Morley column

MARTIN Gleeson is undoubtedly a top class centre but I honestly don't think we've missed him at Warrington since he joined Wigan.

It is fair to say there hasn't been a hangover since he left and on Friday he's back at the Halliwell Jones for what should be a very interesting game.

Gleeson didn't know anything about Wigan's interest and was not touting himself around but it is also fair to say that the current economic climate also had a part to play in his departure because at the end of the day this is a business.

New deals for Wolves pair

WARRINGTON have handed contracts for next season of utility player Simon Grix and second rower Matty Blythe.

Both Grix, 23, who joined the Wolves from home-town club Halifax in 2004, and local product Blythe, 20, were due to come off contract at the end of this season.

Warrington coach Tony Smith said: "We are delighted that Simon has committed to the Wolves for another year. There has been some general interest shown but he has chosen to show his commitment to us.

Mathers relishes Wigan test

WARRINGTON full-back Richard Mathers is relishing the chance to make his "home debut" against his old club Wigan tomorrow in his specialist position, confident that his days as a makeshift hooker are a thing of the past.

When Mathers lined up against the Wolves for Wigan last season, he was forced to share the hooking duties with Mickey Higham - now a Warrington team-mate - after losing the full-back spot to Pat Richards.

With Higham now sharing the dummy-half role with fellow international Jon Clarke at the Wolves, Mathers knows it is unlikely he will be needed to play in the pack and he will certainly not be volunteering for the position.

Radlinski gets England call

FORMER Wigan and Great Britain full-back Kris Radlinski has joined the England backroom staff ahead of the Gillette international against France next month.

The 33-year-old, who ended his distinguished playing career three years ago, returned to the game in March when he was made Wigan's scholarship coach and has now been enlisted by England head coach Tony Smith.

"Kris will bring a wealth of experience to the playing squad," said Smith. "He is an excellent role model for the players and I'm sure will be a welcome addition."

Salford's got talent!

SALFORD City Reds' band of Brits are quality players, according to their Australian team-mates.

NRL stalwarts, Mark Henry and Ray Cashmere, who joined Salford from the North Queensland Cowboys, have been instantly impressed with the quality and talent of the home-grown stars in Shaun McRae's squad.

Stapleton in late charge

BIG Craig Stapleton is touch and go to make Salford's showdown with Bradford on Friday night.

The powerful prop, who has missed the Reds last two games, has been hindered by a niggling foot injury and was testing it in training.

Ratchford's England call on the way

SALFORD Reds skipper Mal Alker is sure team-mate Stefan Ratchford will one day pull on an England shirt and enjoy a long successful international career.

Ratchford, 20, has struck gold since landing the chance to shine in Super League at stand-off - and Alker has been greatly impressed, predicting a bright future for the silky-skilled former Wigan schoolboy.

McRae praises Myler

SALFORD coach Shaun McRae heaped praise on youngster Richie Myler after the scrum-half scored a try and made another in a deserved 24-4 win at Huddersfield.

Myler, 19 next week, has been named in the Great Britain elite training squad and McRae said his performance in this match showed why he had earned the call-up.

Huddersfield 4 Salford 24

RICHIE Myler set up a try and scored another as Salford capitalised on an error-strewn Huddersfield performance to win for only the fourth time in Super League this season.

Giants stand-off Kevin Brown attempted to find touch with a penalty in the sixth minute, but only succeeded in kicking the ball straight to a Reds player.

Smith delight at Wolves

WARRINGTON coach Tony Smith was thrilled with his patched-up side's second-half fightback after they came from 12-0 down to beat Hull 18-16 at the KC Stadium.

Hull took full advantage of the sin-binning of former player Garreth Carvell after only five minutes to run in tries through Richard Whiting and Jodie Broughton, both goaled by Danny Tickle.

Hull 16 Warrington 18

WARRINGTON recovered from a nightmare start to gain a richly-deserved victory over Hull at the KC Stadium.

The Wolves, with something of a makeshift line-up, conceded two early tries with former Hull favourite Garreth Carvell in the sin bin, trailed 16-6 early in the second half and only went in front for the first time eight minutes from the end.

Ex-Red alert for Salford

FRIENDS are reunited at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium on Sunday on what is a big day for little Luke Robinson.

The Giants' scrum-half faces former club Salford for the first time since leaving the Reds and it's a fixture he has been relishing.

Wigan 12 Hull KR 20

HULL KR defended exceptionally to grind out a tense victory at the JJB Stadium tonight that lifts them to the top of engage Super League.

Paul Cooke and Jake Webster scored tries in a crucial six-minute spell early in the second half to edge the Robins in front for the first time, and they tackled their hearts out to defend their lead under intense pressure from the hosts.

Henry's feel-good factor

IAN Millward believes Salford's Australian star Mark Henry will kick on from his four-try display in the Challenge Cup and serve up more top performances.

Millward, Henry's coaching mentor at North Queensland last season, speaks highly of a player who was hindered by injury at the start of the Super League season.

Leigh 23 Widnes 16

LEIGH recovered from 10-0 down to claim their first Co-operative Championship win at their new stadium and beat Widnes for a second time this season.

The Vikings raced ahead at Leigh Sports Village as Gavin Dodd crossed out wide and James Webster followed up last week's hat-trick with another try.

Myler gets England call up

SALFORD star Richard Myler has been called up by England for the 17-strong squad to play France next month.

“I'm really pleased to be back in the squad. It was a good experience for me last time against Wales and things went well,” he said.

Adrian Morley column

THOUGH Super League standards continue to rise, I still honestly feel our game has a way to go before we can safely say we're on a par with the NRL in Australia.

Slowly but surely we are bridging the gap but there are definitely more quality players Down Under.

Wilkinson sets sights on cup upset

SALFORD chairman John Wilkinson is upbeat, confident and optimistic of the Reds' prospects going into the second half of the Super League season.

The Reds boss is certainly sleeping a lot easier at night with the squad having overcome early teething problems readjusting to the pace and intensity of Super League.

Batley 4 Salford 66

SALFORD cruised into the Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-finals as they thrashed Co-operative Championship bottom club Batley at Mount Pleasant.

The gulf in class was all too evident as eight tries and eight kicks gave Salford a 48-0 lead at the interval.

Challenge Cup round-up

ST Helens made a timely return to form to maintain their grip on the Carnegie Challenge Cup with a clinical 42-8 destruction of Catalans Dragons in a one-sided fifth-round tie at Knowsley Road.

Francis Meli, Paul Wellens and Gary Wheeler all scored two tries apiece in a 17th successive Challenge Cup victory which takes Saints to within two games of a fourth successive final appearance.

Challenge Cup draw

WIGAN have been drawn at home to Salford in the quarter-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Adamson's hitting his peak

SALFORD Reds star Luke Adamson is scaling the heights this season thanks to altitude training.

The tough tackling back-rower has maintained a gruelling training technique first encouraged by his former Reds boss Karl Harrison. Adamson enjoyed the training - under artificial conditions at a gym - so much, he went back for more.