Salford Red Devils edged Hull FC 28-22 in a tense encounter at the Halliwell Jones Stadium this evening.
In a game that ebbed and flowed, Krisnan Inu scored a first-half brace, whilst there were also tries from Joey Lussick, Rhys Williams and Andy Ackers.
Jamie Shaul scored his 100th career try thanks to a brace, but further tries from Andre Savelio and Jordan Lane couldn’t earn Hull the important two points to give their play-off hopes a boost.
Team News
As Hull FC returned to Betfred Super League action, Interim Head Coach Andy Last made four changes to the side that fell to Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.
Marc Sneyd, Masi Matongo, Connor Wynne and Jordan Johnstone dropped out of the squad, with Shaul, Josh Bowden, Cameron Scott and Savelio returning to action for the Black & Whites.
The Airlie Birds remained without the services of Scott Taylor, Josh Jones, Ratu Naulago, Albert Kelly, Adam Swift and Gareth Ellis.
Jack Ormondroyd made his long-awaited Salford Red Devils debut, whilst Oliver Roberts also returned from injury to feature for Ian Watson’s side.
There were a couple of milestone appearances for Salford this evening, too. Stalwart halfback Kevin Brown clocked up his 350th game, and ex-Hull KR outside back Kris Welham made his 250th appearance.
The Match
After a pulsating opening ten minutes, it was Hull who drew first blood in the match – deservingly so after an energetic start both in defence and attack.
FC had an extra man down the shortside following a quick play-the-ball and Jake Connor was alert to spot Josh Griffin, who flung the ball on the inside to the fullback Shaul as the hometown lad crossed for his 100th career try. Connor tagged on the extras.
Hull’s hard work was undone when the Airlie Birds conceded a cheap penalty towards the end of a Salford set. When the Red Devils shifted the ball out wide to the left flank, Inu glided past Scott and posted Salford’s first points of the evening. The Kiwi added the conversion to level the scores.
Dan Sarginson was Salford’s Golden Point hero in the Challenge Cup last week, but he was given a yellow card midway through the first half for a reckless high challenge on Shaul.
Despite the numerical advantage, the Black & Whites had to contend with a Salford attack on their own line and passed the test with flying colours. Then, they were rewarded with a try at the other end of the field with Sarginson still in the sin bin. Soft hands from Ligi Sao put Savelio away for a delicately constructed try from FC and Connor’s conversion gave them a 12-6 lead.
The Red Devils demonstrated good tenacity, though, and levelled the scores with a simple dart over the whitewash from Lussick nine minutes from half-time. Inu levelled the scores for a second time with the conversion.
Hull were caught out by another Salford shift to the left edge in the closing stages of the first half, and once again it was Inu who crossed in the corner, forcing the ball down despite the best attention of several FC defenders. He converted his own try to give Ian Watson’s side a 18-12 lead.
HALF-TIME: Hull FC 12-18 Salford Red Devils
Salford added a cushion to their lead early on in the second half, but they were given a helping hand by a sloppy error in midfield from the Black & Whites. An early kick in the set from the Red Devils sent Williams racing onto the loose ball and the Welshman grounded it in the right corner. Inu couldn’t convert from the touchline, leaving the scores at 22-12.
To arrest any threat of a runaway Salford scoreline, Hull needed a swift response and they got one just moments after Williams crossed. Shaul drew in the defender with an angled run and slid over in the left corner. The conversion was missed, however.
The tries were in full flow in the second half, and Salford hit back immediately. Following a Hull attack that broke down, the Red Devils regained possession and Brown dropped the ball off to Ackers, who was on hand to score underneath the sticks from close range. Inu converted.
As Hull’s hopes of a comeback were sliding away with thirteen minutes remaining, a piece of sheer brilliance got Andy Last’s side back into the match. Lane ran an excellent line with power and pace, and the young second-rower out-paced Sarginson to finish off a spectacular move. Connor converted to make it 28-22 to the Red Devils.
However, the comeback wasn’t meant to be. The Airlie Birds rallied hard in the closing stages, but Salford held onto the competition points.
FULL-TIME: Hull FC 22-28 Salford Red Devils
Squads & Scorers
Hull: Jamie Shaul, Cameron Scott, Mahe Fonua, Josh Griffin, Bureta Faraimo, Carlos Tuimavave, Jake Connor, Josh Bowden, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Jordan Lane, Manu Ma’u, Ligi Sao
Hull Interchanges: Jack Brown, Joe Cator, Brad Fash, Andre Savelio
Hull Tries: Shaul (2), Savelio, Lane
Hull Goals: Connor (3/4)
Salford: Dan Sarginson, Krisnan Inu, Kris Welham, Kallum Watkins, Rhys Williams, Tui Lolohea, Kevin Brown, Gil Dudson, Joey Lussick, Luke Yates, Oliver Roberts, Jack Ormondroyd, Mark Flanagan
Salford Interchanges: Andy Ackers, Greg Burke, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Pauli Pauli
Salford Tries: Inu (2), Lussick, Williams, Ackers
Salford Goals: Inu (4/5)
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