Rare home win for Hull

Hull scored their first home win in 16 weeks after overcoming Salford in nervous fashion to score a 14-12 Super League win.

The victory, whose foundations were laid courtesy of first-half tries from Gareth Raynor and Motu Tony, was their first at the KC Stadium since they beat Catalans Dragons 28-12 on February 27.

It also helps to ease pressure on coach Richard Agar, who was given a vote of confidence on Thursday despite his side chalking up just two victories in 12 matches.

They nevertheless came into the match in the knowledge they had never lost to Salford at home in the Super League and ultimately won again after managing to largely subdue Salford scrum-half Richie Myler.

Very much the man of the moment following his record-breaking performance for England in France last weekend, Myler set up Jeremy Smith's first-half try but was otherwise unable to impose himself.

Hull started strongly, with the returning Graeme Horne and Raynor causing problems down the right-hand side which ultimately led to the opening try after eight minutes.

It was Raynor who touched down his second try in as many weeks following a neat ball from Graeme Horne, although Danny Tickle missed the conversion.

Hull dominated the early exchanges before Myler laid on a first try of the season for Smith with a slide-rule kick that caught the Hull defence flat-footed.

John Wilshere added a simple conversion and, all of a sudden, Salford led by two points.

Worries

Even so, Hull fought back well and, after Jamie Thackray had been held up over the line, Tony eased their worries with a try eight minutes before the interval.

Richard Horne pushed himself clear of the Salford defence before standing the ball up for the full-back, who had the easiest of tasks in crossing the line.

Tickle found the target this time - thus extending his run of being the only man in the competition to score in every game this season - before adding a penalty at the end of the first half.

Hull should have extended their lead after the restart but, rather than pass to Raynor, Graeme Horne chose the more difficult option of going it alone, only to be tackled by Stuart Littler.

Tickle increased their lead further with penalty after 50 minutes before the Reds quickly fought back with a try from Darrell Goulding.

Having received a flat pass from Myler, Adam Sidlow nearly barged his way over before on-loan Wigan wing Goulding crossed instead at the corner.

Wilshere, whose pass set up the score, subsequently converted to reduce the deficit to two points.

A last-gasp tackle from Stefan Ratchford prevented Danny Houghton from scoring Hull's third but they still had referee Phil Bentham to thank for not losing their lead late on.

After Tony had made a horrendous error in allowing Smith's punt to bounce in front of him, the referee pulled Ratchford up for offside when he thought he had scored.