It was a disastrous afternoon for the Black & Whites as Salford ran in ten tries at the MKM Stadium, subjecting Hull to a 58-4 defeat.
Team News
Hull FC made five changes to the side that visited Leeds Rhinos last weekend.
Ed Chamberlain, Will Gardiner, Morgan Smith and Davy Litten were all named in the starting lineup.
Tiaki Chan came on to the bench.
Ligi Sao dropped out of the team with an ankle injury, while Tom Briscoe missed out through illness.
Jed Cartwright also missed out through suspension.
Sam Eseh and Carlos Tuimavave were also replaced in the matchday lineup.
The Match
Both sides started the game by completing steady sets, with no chances being created early on. The Red Devils managed to break the trend in emphatic fashion however, forcing a dropout before shifting the ball out wide to Tim Lafai for the opening score. Sneyd dragged the conversion attempt wide.
The visitors had another chance shortly after off the back of an error. Straight from the scrum, the ball was shifted out wide again, with Deon Cross the tryscorer. Sneyd added the extras. A drop out two minutes later meant Salford could test their opponents line again but the Black and Whites stood strong.
Rowley’s side had another good chance after 17 minutes, but a forward pass from Sneyd brought an end to the threat. However, they did get over on their next set, with Joe Mellor getting over from dummy half. Sneyd was on target with the boot. A video referee check on Salford’s next set confirmed Brad Singleton had their fourth, with Sneyd extending the lead from the boot.
Strong defence denied the visitors another try after they spent nearly the full set camped on the FC line. Logan Moy put in a superb tackle to deny Ethan Ryan on the next set too. However, Hull’s hard work was undone with Tim Lafai intercepting and racing away to score, before Sneyd added the extras.
Hull had their first chance of the game with three minutes until the break. A cross field kick was knocked on by Salford giving FC a repeat set, but it was to no avail. The half came to a close with the visitors on the attack, but Moy caught Sneyd’s kick well under pressure.
Half-Time: Hull FC 0-28 Salford Red Devils
The second started with a great opportunity for Hull, with the visitors knocking on ten metres out from their own line. Jack Walker put in a teasing kick but Salford dealt with it well in a promising start to the half for Simon Grix’s men. They had another fantastic opportunity on their next set and Logan Moy looked to have opened Hull’s account for the game, but was ruled out by the video referee.
However, Salford opened the scoring of the second half through Nene Macdonald who dragged multiple defenders over the line with him. Sneyd kicked the conversion. It was back to back tries as the visitors reasserted their dominance, with Shane Wright touching down. Sneyd converted again.
A penalty helped Salford upfield for their next try, with Kallum Watkins scoring in the corner. Sneyd was on target.
Hull’s determination in attack nearly paid off a few moments later, with Harvey Barron was unable to take the ball cleanly in the air under pressure. The resulting twenty metre restart saw Salford race down field and Lafai complete his hat trick. Sneyd added the two.
The next try went the home sides way. After regathering the ball from a dropout, FC raced up field, before Jack Walker sent a lovely cutout ball to Jebson, who touched down for his first senior try. Jack Charles dragged the conversion wide from a difficult angle.
Salford then quickly turned defence into attack and were back on the Hull line, before a knock on from Marc Sneyd returned possession to the Black and Whites.
A scrappy period of the game followed as the match entered its final stages. Joe Mellor grabbed his second try of the afternoon to break the trend with four minutes to go. Sneyd converted.
The game ended with Salford having a try ruled out by the video referee.
Full Time: Hull FC 4-58 Salford Red Devils
The Squads
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Harvey Barron, Davy Litten, Ed Chamberlain, Lewis Martin, Jack Charles, Jack Walker, Herman Ese’ese, Morgan Smith, Will Gardiner, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash, Yusuf Aydin.
Hull FC Interchanges: Jack Ashworth, Zach Jebson, Denive Balmforth, Tiaki Chan.
18th Man: Matty Laidlaw.
Salford Red Devils: Ryan Brierley, Ethan Ryan, Nene Macdonald, Tim Lafai, Deon Cross, Jayden Nikorima, Marc Sneyd, Brad Singleton, Joe Mellor, Gil Dudson, Shane Wright, Kallum Watkins, Ollie Partington.
Salford Red Devils Interchanges: Joe Shorrocks, Chris Hankinson, Loghan Lewis, Joe Bullock.
18th Man: Chris Atkin.
The Scorers
Hull FC Tries: Jebson (66)
Hull FC Conversions:-
Salford Red Devils Tries: Lafai (4, 33, 60), Cross (10), Mellor (19, 76), Singleton (24), Macdonald (46), Wright (49), Watkins (54)
Salford Red Devils Conversions: Sneyd (11, 20, 24, 33, 47, 50, 55, 61, 77)
Attendance, sponsored by Garbutts: 9,274
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