Hull FC fell to a gritty Salford Red Devils side at the AJ Bell Stadium this afternoon.
The Black & Whites led early in the contest through Ligi Sao’s first try of the season but that wasn’t enough as the Red Devils took the spoils.
Team News
Brett Hodgson was forced into two changes from Thursday’s fixture against Castleford Tigers, with Carlos Tuimavave missing out with an Achillies injury and Scott Taylor unable to play because of a back issue. In their place Connor Wynne returned from suspension at right centre and Josh Bowden taking his place on the interchange bench.
The Match
Hull started the first half brightly, breaking the deadlock after just five minutes thanks to Ligi Sao’s first try of the season, slipping under a Red Devils tackle close to the line after Jake Connor and Ben McNamara offloads brought promising field position for the Black & Whites.
Hull were unable to build on that promising start, with Ken Sio striking back for Salford just five minutes later. Back to back penalties brough dangerous field position, which they capitalised on through the former Newcastle Knights winger, who held off Adam Swift to score in the corner.
An end to end first half ensued, Salford going closest through Joe Burgess who collected a Lolohea kick to the corner but knocked on with the line at his mercy.
Hull regained the lead through a Marc Sneyd penalty midway through the first half, after he was tackled high 10 meters from the Red Devils try line.
However, it was Salford who went into the break in front after Sio bagged his second of the half. A scrappy end to a set for Salford saw the ball kicked side to side, Sarginson collecting a Burgess offload to kick wide. Sio still had work to do, but was able to collect his own grubber kick to score, which Inu converted.
Half Time: Salford Red Devils 12 – 8 Hull FC
Again, Hull started the half the brighter of the two teams. After a Sneyd kick pinned the Reds in their own corner early in the second half Hull were awarded a penalty for obstruction after a mix up at the play the ball between Sio and Krisnan Inu. During the resulting set they went close to scoring first through Fash then the lively Cameron Scott, before a Sneyd kick in goal for Houghton to pounce on and score.
The Red Devils went close to responding immediately, but outstanding defensive work from full back Jake Connor prevented Morgan Escare from darting through on the last tackl,e with Connor also able to keep Ellis Robson from reaching out to score from the Frenchman’s offload with the tryline begging.
Salford continued to build pressure and after five sets on Hull’s line back to back that pressure told. Chris Atkin threw a dummy from acting half which created a hole to reach over and score through. Inu converted to restore the Red Devils advantage.
The Red Devils extended their lead through Harvey Livett, after a Lolohea kick caused all kinds of problems for the Hull defence. The ball waws allowed to bounce in goal, Dan Sarginson batted the ball back, it missed Joe Burgess but the former Warrington man Livett was able to dive on the ball to score. Inu maintained his perfect record with the conversion.
Joe Burgess added his name to the scoresheet with a try following a well worked move in the following set. Lolohea passed wide to Burgess to race away, cut inside and score. Inu converted from the touchline.
Sio completed the scoring in the closing stages, first cutting inside after another wide pass from Lolohea to reach over before rounding off the afternoon with a length of the field interception.
Full Time: Salford Red Devils 42 – 14 Hull FC
Hull FC: Connor, Swift, Scott, Wynne, Faraimo, McNamara, Sneyd, Satae, Houghton, Sao, Ma’u, Savelio, Lane
Interchanges: Bowden, Fash, Fonua, Johnstone
Salford Red Devils: Escare, Sio, Inu, Sarginson, Burgess, Lolohea, Hingano, Ormondroyd, Atkin, Johnson, Livett, Robson, Burke
Interchanges: Addy, Lannon, Luckley, Roberts
Scorers:
Hull Tries: Sao (5), Houghton (45)
Hull Goals: Sneyd (3/3)
Salford Red Devils Tries: Sio (12, 36, 74, 80), Atkin (57), Livett (65), Burgess (68)
Salford Red Devils Goals: Inu (7/7)
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