Rugby league: Simms lives in hope

SUPER League bottom club Salford City Reds haven't given up hope of hanging on to their top flight status.

The Reds are praying Batley Bulldogs or cash-strapped Halifax Blue Sox can give them an 11th-hour reprieve.

Salford football supremo Steve Simms (right) will be cheering underdogs Batley at his old club Leigh in today's Northern Ford Premiership semi-final.

Leigh are favourites to meet Huddersfield Giants in Saturday's final with the winners replacing Salford.

Simms said: "Huddersfield and Leigh are desperate to go up but apparently Batley aren't interested and that would suit us.

"The chances of Batley beating Leigh and Huddersfield are remote but stranger things have happened.

"I don't know much about Halifax's financial troubles but if they fail to provide guarantees that could throw us another lifeline."

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