Hull KR 48-12 Salford

Hull KR (12) 48
Tries: Murrell, Fox (3), Dobson (3), Welham (2) Goals: Dobson (6)

Salford (12) 22
Tries: Turner, Adamson Goals: Wilshere (2)

Peter Fox and Michael Dobson both scored hat-tricks as Hull KR defeated Salford at New Craven Park.

Salford gave the home side a fright with a Paul White try after just 64 seconds and the sides went in level at the break.

But the home side started the second half strongly with Dobson crossing for the first of his three tries.

Fox then went over to add to his two first-half efforts and as Hull KR ran took control, Salford struggled.

White's try on his seasonal debut after injury had given the Reds a good start with John Wilshere converting.

It took Rovers 10 minutes to close the gap when Ben Galea and Kris Welham created an opening for Scott Murrell to force his way over for an unconverted try.

But the visitors belied their lowly league position to extend their lead when Luke Adamson was sent in by Craig Stapleton and Wilshere again added the extras.

606: DEBATE

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Fox's first try on 20 minutes reduced the deficit and the same player forced his way over after good approach work by Ben Fisher and Galea to level the scores at 12-12 by the interval.

However, it was all one-way traffic after the interval with Dobson and Fox quickly adding to their tally while a defensive mix-up by Salford allowed Kris Welham to stroll in on 55 minutes with Dobson converting.

Ten minutes later, Welham and I'Anson created an opening for Dobson to coast in and add the conversion to see Rovers 36-12 ahead.

Eight minutes before the end Salford spilled the ball and Dobson kicked ahead to touch down for his hat-trick try before adding the conversion.

In the last minute Welham jolted the ball loose in the tackle and picked up to touch down.

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan:

"The second half was good. I thought we concentrated well and bossed the game.

"Michael Dobson, just took control and directed us round the park and we scored some really nice tries.

"I thought the first half was ever so slightly a leftover from last week. It took us a while to get into our stride."

Salford coach Shaun McRae:

"I think we had 28 completed sets in the match. Some sides do that in a half.

"There is a major problem there. We started particularly well as we wanted to be in the game. At half-time we knew it was going to take a big effort to hang on bearing in mind the injury situation.

"I just thought we started the second half poorly and then never got back."

Hull KR: Cockayne, Fox, Welham, Webster, Colbon, I'Anson, Dobson, Fozzard, Fitzhenry, Lovegrove, Newton, Galea, Murrell.

Replacements: Fisher, Aizue, Gene, Netherton.

Salford: Wilshere, McGilvray, Littler, Turner, White, Smith, Myler, Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Adamson, Parker, Swain.

Replacements: Leuluai, Paul, Sidlow, Jewitt.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens)