Strong second half from Salford earns victory over Hull KR
Last Updated: 13/07/15 7:17am
Salford produced an inspired second half to beat Hull KR 31-18 and give Tim Sheens a winning start in charge.
The Red Devils were reduced to a 18-4 half-time deficit thanks to a superb showing in the first period from Hull KR's Albert Kelly, before the home side ran in five tries after the break without reply.
Salford were forced to wait until the 75th minute to take the lead through a Theo Fages try before Michael Dobson slotted a drop goal against his old side and Niall Evalds added sixth try.
Josh Griffin, Weller Hauraki and Ben Jones-Bishop were the other Salford players to cross in a one-sided second half.
The second half will have been particularly displeasing for Chris Chester's men, as their rivals Hull FC beat Castleford on Sunday to put two league points between the two sides. Hull FC remain in eighth place but if they beat Hull KR next weekend then the Robins' top 8 hopes will come crashing down.
Rovers made a good start to the game with Albert Kelly sending McCarthy past Evalds to give his side a 6-0 lead with barely three minutes on the board.
Rovers conceded a host of first-half penalties, but all Salford had to show for it was a lone Jones-Bishop try to trail 6-4. After sustaining a period of scant possession Kelly then shot the Rovers further in front with his first try of the afternoon nine minutes from the break.
Rovers then went to 12 men when Kevin Larroyer was sin binned for holding down, but it didn't stop Kelly from nabbing his second to make it 18-4 at the interval.
The Red Devils lost hard-working Jordan Walne to injury early in the first half before the all-important first score of the second period came through Griffin, who timed his run onto a pass from Paterson.
The next try to the home side came with its own dose of good fortune after Dobson's kick came off Liam Salter for Hauraki to pounce and cut the deficit to 18-14 with Dobson's conversion.
Liam Hood troubled the visiting defence throughout the second half and his break set up the next try as Fages put Jones-Bishop through for his second of the day which levelled the scores.
An infringement from Paterson gave Josh Mantellato a chance to kick a penalty, but the touch judges ruled it to have missed, amidst heated disagreement from the Hull KR players.
Salford then took the lead five minutes from time with a Fages try and Dobson conversion before Dobson added a drop goal and Evalds capped off a remarkable comeback from the home side.
