 O'Neill managed a try in each half for Hull KR |
Salford: (12) 24
Tries: Barnett, Finnigan, Moule, Hodgson
Goals: Wilshere 4
Hull KR: (10) 30
Tries: O'Neill 2, Cooke, Lennon, Dyer
Goals: Cooke 5
Hull KR put in a storming second-half performance to increase the gap on Super League basement side Salford to three points after a hard-fought win. Trailing 12-10 after a tight first half, the visitors made the perfect start to the second half when Mark O'Neill went over for his second try.
Mark Lennon and Luke Dyer quickly extended the lead to leave struggling Salford reeling.
Paul Cooke, who scored his first try for Hull KR, also kicked five goals.
Rovers started brightly but Salford went ahead after nine minutes when David Hodgson broke downfield and Luke Robinson's long pass found Richie Barnett who went over for his first try for the Reds.
After Andy Coley was sin-binned for obstruction, Rovers made the Reds pay with James Webster sending O'Neill over for his first try of the game while Cooke then managed an impressive solo try.
Coley returned and Salford immediately hit back with a Simon Finnigan try and a goal by John Wilshere making it 12-10.
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But the second half belonged to the visitors with Webster creating O'Neill's second try and Cooke's conversion making it 16-12.
Stuart Littler's high tackle allowed Cooke to stretch the lead before the influential stand off's long pass sent Lennon over in the corner.
Dyer added to Salford's woes before Aaron Moule gave Salford some hope with a try from Robinson's kick but Cooke stretched the Hull KR lead with another goal six minutes from time.
Danny Ward was sin-binned for Rovers before Salford managed a late consolation try from Hodgson.
Hull KR boss Justin Morgan "With two more wins I think we'll be okay but it would be dicey if we only win one more.
"Both teams played very nervously. It wasn't a classic but entertaining for the fans with plenty of end-to-end action.
"It was an outstanding team performance and Paul Cooke and James Webster were very impressive."
Salford City Reds coach Shaun McRae "We need to win two more games than Hull KR and there are only five matches left so it's become an even bigger challenge.
"Rovers deserved to win. We were very poor in the second half despite leading 12-10 at half-time and not playing that well.
"Certain people did not handle the pressure as well as I would have liked."
Salford: Saxton, Hodgson, Littler, Moule, Barnett, Wilshere, Robinson, Highton, Alker, Korkidas, Coley, Wainwright, Finnigan.
Replacements: Dorn, Haggerty, Nash, Leuluai.
Hull KR: Hardman, Lennon, Goddard, Dyer, Bauer, Cooke, Webster, Aizue, Murrell, Vella, Chester, O'Neill, Gene.
Replacements: Ward, Tandy, Fisher, Lovegrove.
Referee: Ashley Klein (RFL)
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