Hull FC went down to Salford Red Devils at the Salford Community Stadium, as Marc Sneyd’s goal kicking proved to be the difference between the sides.
The game ended with Hull outscoring their hosts four tries to three, but three penalty goals from Sneyd was the difference between the sides as the Black & Whites went down 22-20.
Team News
Simon Grix made three changes to the side that line-up against Warrington Wolves a fortnight ago, with Danny Houghton, Tiaki Chan, and debutante Will Kirby coming into the side to replace Jack Ashworth (ankle), Cam Scott (hamstring) and Morgan Smith.
Young back-rower Kirby, who has impressed for FC’s U18s side in 2024, made his first senior start for the club after training with the first-team squad in recent weeks.
Joe Cator (back), Mitieli Vulikijapani (knee), Nick Staveley (knee), Charlie Severs (shoulder), Cobie Wainhouse (knee) and Jed Cartwright (foot) remained sidelined for Hull.
For the hosts, Paul Rowley was without star centres Nene MacDonald and Tim Lafai, with back to back Lance Todd Trophy winner Marc Sneyd making his 300th Super League appearance against the club where he won those accolades.
The Match
An uneventful opening 20 minutes unfolded at the Salford Community Stadium, the only real chance a Logan Moy break 15 minutes in.
Moy sliced though the line with a big right foot step, but he tried to chip the ball over full back Ryan Brierley, but Ethan Ryan covered across to mop up.
It took 27 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, and it was the Reds that did it. Capitalising on a poor pass from Brad Fash which led to an error, Deon Cross broke down the left wing from the scrum. The ball went right and then back to the left and Cross was able to scramble over in the corner from close range.
That looked to spark Hull into life, as Deon Cross dropped the restart. Hull created a big overlap on their right which gave Marc Seyd no choice but to knock on, and from the scrum Danny Houghton’s wide pass to Ben Reynolds was perfect, Jordan Lane held his line well and Reynolds sliced through the Salford line like a hot knife through butter to score his first try for the club. He was on target to convert his own try to give Hull the lead.
The last play of the half saw referee Chris Kendall use the video referee for the first time.
Marc Sneyd chipped over the top for Ryan Brierley, the full back chased and chipped again for himself, went shoulder to shoulder with Tom Briscoe, and the Hull man was judged to have obstructed Brierley and was sent to the sin bin.
Sneyd was on target with the penalty goal to level the scores at half-time.
Half Time: Salford Red Devils 6 – 6 Hull FC
It took Salford just two minutes to take advantage of their extra man in the second half, as Ryan Brierley got the opening points of the half.
He outjumped his opposite full-back, using his heigh advantage to climb above Logan Moy and gather the ball, falling over the try line to score. Sneyd added the extras to put Salford six points to the good.
From the kick-off set, on his 300th Super League appearance, Sneyd kicked a 40/20 down Hull’s right, and the Red Devils were over again.
Creating a huge overlap on the right, Kallum Watkins offloaded with a basketball chest-pass style pass and Chris Hankinson cut back across the chasing Hull FC defence to glide over, with Sneyd again on target with the boot to extend the Red Devils lead.
Ten minutes into the second half Hull hit back. Forcing a Salford error deep in their half and coming close through Yusuf Aydin, Denive Balmforth burrowed over for his trademark four pointer after a lengthy Video Referee check, despite the first angle clearly showing the ball on the ground.
Ben Reynolds conversion reduced the deficit to a converted score.
Salford had the next chance, as Ryan Brierley pushed through in support of an offload, but Logan Moy managed to come up with an ankle tap and Brad Fash chasing back managed to complete the tackle and force and error from Brierley as he looked to be going over to score.
With 20 minutes remaining, Salford were awarded a penalty 20 meters out in front of the posts for interference, and Sneyd added the penalty goal to take the lead to eight points.
On Hull’s next usage they looked to be over again, but play was pulled back for obstruction as Logan Moy found his way through the Salford line.
The game had finally caught fire, and this time it was Salford’s turn to have a decision go against them, as Marc Sneyd jinked his way over the line, but brilliant defending from Moy and Brad Fash prevented him from getting the ball down.
With just over 10 minutes left on the clock, Jake Trueman threaded through a wonderful grubber kick for Jordan Lane to chase, and the back rower followed the bounce of the ball perfectly to catch and ground, but Reynolds hit the post with his conversion, leaving Hull trailing by four.
Another penalty goal for Sneyd moved Salford back out to a converted score in front with 6 minutes remaining.
However, Hull refused to be beaten, and after Ben Reynolds kick was charged down and gave Hull another set, Logan Moy did what he couldn’t last week against Warrington and timed his pass perfectly to Lewis Martin who raced away down the left side to score in the corner, but Ben Reynolds conversion just didn’t quite come across the face of the posts enough.
Full Time: Salford Red Devils 22-20 Hull FC
The Lineups:
Salford Red Devils: Ryan Brierley, Ethan Ryan, Kallum Watkins, Deon Cross, Chris Hankinson, Chris Atkin, Marc Sneyd, Brad Singleton, Joe Mellor, Loghan Lewis, Shane Wright, Sam Stone, Oliver Partington
Interchange: Amir Bourouh, Gil Dudson, Joe Shorrocks, King Vuniyayawa
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Tom Briscoe, Carlos Tuimavave, Liam Sutcliffe, Lewis Martin, Jake Trueman, Ben Reynolds, Herman Ese’ese, Danny Houghton, Ligi Sao, Jordan Lane, Will Kirby, Yusuf Aydin
Interchange: Brad Fash, Denive Balmforth, Tiaki Chan, Will Gardiner
The Scorers:
Salford Red Devils: Deon Cross (27), Ryan Brierley (42), Chris Hankinson (48) | Marc Sneyd (4/5)
Hull FC: Ben Reynolds (31), Denive Balmforth (50), Jordan Lane (69), Lewis Martin (78) | Ben Reynolds (2/4)
Rowe Freight Man of the Match: Herman Ese’ese
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