Salford Reds 24-22 Crusaders

A second-half fightback from Salford Reds against Celtic Crusaders kept them top of National League One.

First-half Reds tries from Paul White, Philip Leuluai and Stuart Littler were matched by Crusaders scores from Neale Wyatt, Damien Quinn and Jordan James.

Mark Lennon's conversions gave the visitors an 18-14 lead, but White scored his second after the break.

John Wilshire's try took his team clear at the Willows, Mark Dalle Cort's 69th minute score ensuring a tense finale.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on the game

Salford's Malcolm Alker was sin-binned with two minutes remaining following a fight.

While the Crusaders attempted to take advantage of the extra man, the referee called a knock-on against Darren Mapp to end the visitors' hopes.

The game was the first meeting between the two sides, each of whom is bidding for a Super League franchise in 2009.

"It was tough to come here and put in as much effort and endeavour as we did and come away with a narrow loss," said Crusaders coach John Dixon.

"We're just finding our feet in this league and Salford are leading the competition so to come here and play as well as we did today was a credit to us.

"We're disappointed because there were times that we could have won that game."

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Salford: Tries: Leuluai, White 2, Littler, Wilshere. Goals: Wilshere 2.

Salford: Fitzpatrick, Wilshere, Littler, Gardner, White, Paul, R. Myler, Leuluai, Alker, Jewitt, Sibbit, Adamson, Turner.
Substitutes: Highton, Sidlow, Ratchford, Brocklehurst.

Sin Bin: Alker (78).

Celtic Crusaders: Tries: Wyatt, Quinn, James, Dalle Cort. Goals: Lennon 3.

Celtic Crusaders: Duggan, Lennon, Hannay, Dalle Cort, Blackwood, Quinn, Van Dijk, James, Budworth, Dean, Beasley, Mapp, Wyatt.
Substitutes: Webster, Summers, I'Anson, Tangata-Toa.

Sin Bin: James (78).

Att: 3,438

Ref: J Leahy (Dewsbury).