Salford kicked off there super 8s campaign with a tough trip up the M62 to Hull. The Airlie birds were on a high after a terrific semi final display to dispatch Leeds.
The Red Devil's made a bright start Manu Vatuvei taking a high kick and racing down the pitch. He then won a penalty and with some good work from Jake Bibby Vatuvei scores in the corner. With Michael Dobson not playing Todd Carney took on the goal kicking. His first attempt missed 0-4.
Todd Carney then came up with an error which allowed Hull the field position. Moments later after some poor defence Albert Kelly raced in to level the scores. Jake Connor added the goal 6-4. Hull then made it back to back tries Carlos Tuimavave going in after Salford were carved up through the middle. Connor added the goal 12-4.
Robert Lui then finds a bit of magic, his pass puts Niall Evalds through who races 60 yards to the line turning Hull full back Jamie Shaul inside out. Carney fails with the conversation attempt 12-8.
Rob Lui starts to make a mark on the game with another super kick this time a high bomb is lost in the air by Hull winger Mahe Fonua. From a set scrum ten yards from the line Lui powers over to level the scores. Salford decide to change goal kickers and Lui kicks off the touch line to nudge the Red Devil's ahead 12-14.
Right on the hooter Salford are penalised and hull wisely take the two points on offer to level the score 14-14 half time.
Tyrone McCarthy comes close to opening the scoring at the start of the second half just missing a Lui kick into the in goal area. Shortly after another try goes begging when the busy Lui puts George Griffin through a big gap his pass finds Evalds before the ball goes to ground.
The game then seem to change momentum wise on the next set when hull find a 40-20 kick from Danny Haughton. A high kick follows but no Salford player seems to jump allowing Fetuli Talanoa to score, Connor makes it 4/4 with the boot 20-14. Jake Connor continued to have a huge say in the game scoring a try after throwing a dummy to ease past some very ordinary Salford defence. His goal stretched the lead to 26-14.
Hulls off load was doing a lot of damage at times the Red Devil's defence looked all over the place. Tuimavave grabbed his second try with Connor converting to put the game out of Salford's reach 32-14. With 15 minutes to go Vatuvei scored his second try. The big kiwi making his mark on the night with a solid display. Another big performance from Niall Evalds at full back with Logan Tomkins playing 80 minutes in a brave display.
Salford definitely missed Dobson's organisation, with Sau, Tasi, Mossop, Brining and Flanagan missing it was a tough night. Ian Watson was again disappointed at the end of the game with Castleford visiting the AJ bell stadium next Friday Salford are desperate to get a win to boost confidence. Manu Vatuvei is slotting in well and is only going to get better as the weeks go by. His go forward and meter making tonight were fantastic. Defence definitely needs work and the intensity that was there early in the season is missing at the moment.
Final score Hull 32 Salford 18.
Report by Paul Whiteside
Pictures by steve McCormick
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