Robins off to flying start

Dobson: a try and five goals

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Two tries from England winger Peter Fox helped fire Hull KR to a winning start to the new Super League season at Craven Park.

Michael Dobson also added a try and kicked five goals in a fine all-round display.

It took Rovers less than three minutes to open their account for the 2010 season, as Paul Cooke, operating at loose forward, put in a shrewd kick which was chased by Fox and Salford full-back Karl Fitzpatrick, with the latter bundled into touch as he tried to clear.

From the play which followed Dobson made the initial break before handing on to Cooke, who in turn found Fox and the winger again demonstrated his finishing skills in the right corner, with Dobson landing the touchline conversion.

Four minutes later another Dobson kick set up Fox, who picked up, stepped inside one man and then beat Fitzpatrick to score. Dobson added a second superb conversion from the touchline.

But Salford steadied the ship and pulled a try back on 20 minutes when Ashley Gibson sent in Matty Smith under the posts with Stefan Ratchford adding the conversion.

On 26 minutes Fox could have completed his hat-trick but he could not take the final pass and the ball went into touch.

Three minutes before the break Rovers went further ahead when Dobson found Jake Webster and the stand-off raced home to score, with that trusty boot tagging on a third touchline conversion to see the Robins 18-6 ahead at the break.

Front foot

After the interval Rovers were back on the front foot and on 46 minutes Liam Watts was hauled down a yard short of the visitors' line.

As the hosts swung play across the field, Fox was sent away but referee Richard Silverwood brought play back for a forward pass.

Jason Netherton also went close but was held short by some determined Salford defence.

Ben Cockayne was tackled high as he raced through in the 51st minute and from the play which followed the final pass was wayward and too difficult for Cockayne to take cleanly.

But it was all Rovers and they extended their lead on 54 minutes when a clearance kick hit a Salford defender and shot into the air, before Webster sent in Dobson for an unopposed run to the line. The scrum-half then added the conversion.

There was more woe for Shaun McRae's side when Ben Fisher and Dobson combined to send Clint Newton clear in the 61st minute and then Dobson made it five successful kicks out of five with the conversion.

Salford were not short of spirit as they showed in the 64th minute. Rovers were pressing on the visitors' line when new signing Steve Tyrer intercepted and found Jodie Broughton, who raced some 49 metres to complete a length-of-the-field movement to score.

Stefan Ratchford added the conversion, but this was the Robins' day. According to confident coach Justin Morgan, it could also be their season.