In a rearranged fixture from the earlier rounds of the Challenge Cup, Hull KR took on the Salford Red Devils in East Yorkshire with their eye on sixth spot ahead of the other side of the city playing tomorrow night.

A win of any description would see KR up to eighth and a win by 40 or more would see them above Warrington into seventh. The Red Devils needs a win to keep them in touch with the eight, and to retain a slim hope of the super eights, but it would need to be a massive points win to get them up just a single place on the league ladder.

The Red Devils had the majority of early pressure attacking towards their own fans, but good KR defence kept them at bay. Against the run of play it was the home side who scored the opener on fifteen, when a precision Albert Kelly kick to the corner was grounded by Ben Cockayne. Josh Mantellato failed to add the extras from the right touchline.

Despite the setback, Salford were back level six minutes later when Cory Paterson stole the ball in a one-on-one tackle and as he broke for the line he found Mason Caton-Brown in support. Josh Griffin managed to convert from the left touchline for a narrow two point lead.

A third winger got in on the scoring action on twenty-nine when Ben Jones-Bishop found space wide right to cross off a Michael Dobson miss-out pass. Griffin failed to add the extras but the Red Devils were good for their 10-4 lead.

The game was tit-for-tat and with the Robins keeping the ball alive, Ben Cockayne was the provider for Kieron Dixon to come inside and ground in the corner. Mantellato left his kick short, and his side two points adrift.

On fifty-one and after shunning the offer of a two point penalty KR hit the front again when Dane Tilse muscled over the line from two metres out and with Mantellato kicking the extras the home side were 14-10 ahead.

Within a minute it was twenty-ten when Shaun Lunt broke downfield and put a kick in along the floor for Kris Welham to pick up and ground behind the sticks. Mantellato had a simple conversion and the whole complexion of the game had changed.

Maurice Blair added the third Robins try of the second half on fifth-eight when he crashed through two tacklers to reach down and score. Once again Mantellato was accurate with the boot and it seemed that the game was close to being won. But the Red Devils had a different idea.

On sixty-three Jordan Walne threw the Red Devils a lifeline when he found a gap off a Theo Fages pass to crash over next to the sticks. Josh Griffin added a simple conversion for 26-16.

Within four minutes Scott Taylor was over for the visitors after a great passing move through half a dozen pairs of hands. Josh Griffin was on target again and the deficit was down to four points at 26-22.

After a late hit on the kicker, KR decided to take the two-point penalty from ten metres out to open up the lead to a converted try, thanks to the boot of Mantellato.

James Donaldson spilled the ball on his own twenty and two plays into the six the ball was moved quickly right for Ben Jones-Bishop to cross in the corner without a KR hand on him. Josh Griffin converted brilliantly from the kick-off to level the scores.

From the restart the Mantellato high kick bounced back evading the Devils players and into the hands of Albert Kelly to collect and score. Mantellato kicked the conversion and again KR were back in the lead by 34-26. It was the final nail in the Red Devils coffin.

This was an entertaining game played by two sides with plenty of dedication to their causes. There were plenty of mistakes and daft plays and dubious judgement calls but it all added to the spectacle.

KR were back up to eighth and they will take great pleasure in pushing their neighbours into ninth spot, albeit that the Airlie Birds have the opportunity to jump back above the Robins when they play Wakefield Wildcats tomorrow night.

Salford Red Devils must now be readying themselves for a middle eights battle and the challenge to preserve their Super League status in 2016.

KR: Dixon (T), Cockayne (T), Salter, Welham (T), Mantellato (5G), Blair (T), Kelly (T), Walker, Lunt, Tilse (T), Ollett, Horne, Donaldson. Subs: Marsh, Green, Greenwood, Burke.

Red Devils: Chase, Jones-Bishop (2T), Sau, Griffin J (4G), Caton-Brown (T), Fages, Dobson, Morley, Tomkins, Taylor (T), Paterson, Walne J (T), Hansen. Subs: Hood, Griffin G, Tasi, Walne A.


Referee: Richard Silverwood
Attendance: 6,717