Six of the best for Salford

Salford City Reds bounced back from two successive Engage Super League defeats with a morale-boosting 34-18 triumph over Hull KR at the Willows.

The City Reds ran in six tries in total as the shell-shocked Robins endured a night to forget in the north west.

Ryan Boyle and Jodie Broughton started the ball rolling with first half scores, however it was a second half blitz that left Hull KR reeling.

Stefan Ratchford and Matty Smith struck within the space of 60 seconds before debutant Sean Gleeson and substitute Marc Sneyd sealed an emphatic win.

Rovers had won the last five meetings against Salford with their only Super League defeat coming in the first clash in 2007.

But the visitors were without the injured Clint Newton, who had scored in the last three wins over the Reds, that saw his run of 67 successive appearances come to an end.

Crucial

Salford were missing props Ray Cashmere and Iafeta Paleaaesina but handed ex-Wigan and Wakefield centre Gleeson his first start alongside subs Alex Davidson and Callum Marriott.

Salford came closest to opening the scoring with both Gleeson and Stephen Wild stopped short and Luke Adamson held up over the line.

The Reds produced a mesmerising handling move on 11 minutes which eventually resulted in Boyle taking Daniel Holdsworth's pass to storm over, Gleeson and Luke Patten also playing crucial roles in the try.

Salford, who had won only one of their five previous games this season, stretched the advantage to 10-0 midway through the first half with Daniel Holdsworth, Smith and Patten combining for Broughton to squeeze over in the corner.

Holdsworth booted the second of his four conversions from the touchline with Willie Mason finding it difficult to penetrate a stubborn Salford defence after his man-of-the-match performance against Crusaders on debut.

But Rovers clawed back to 10-6 at the break with Blake Green putting Craig Hall over for his second try since his close-season move from rivals Hull.

Salford, however, finished in style, running in four tries through Ratchford, Smith, Gleeson and an interception effort from Sneyd right at the death.