Beleaguered Salford Red Devils suffer heavy defeat

Hull FC 80 - 6 Salford Red Devils

A beleaguered Salford Red Devils were thrashed by Hull FC

Author | Josh T

Stadium | MKM Stadium

Emotional scenes after the match

A patched-up Salford side, thrown together in the wake of an ongoing financial crisis, simply could not withstand the onslaught. Hull ran in 14 tries in total, six of them in a blistering 15-minute spell during the first half that propelled them to a 50-0 lead at the break. 

Lewis Martin crossed four times, while Tom Briscoe capped the evening with his 100th try for the club, moving to ninth on Super League’s all-time list with 174.

The result was as lopsided as the build-up had suggested. Salford have been in disarray off the field, losing Ryan Brierley and Jack Ormondroyd this week to take their player departures to 13 for the season. 

Seven loan signings were rushed in over the past few days, five of whom made their debuts here, and squad numbers had to be stretched into the sixties. Some players met their team-mates for the first time on the bus journey to Hull.

View from the stands

The club’s financial plight has left them facing a winding-up petition, adjourned until September, with a protest planned ahead of their home match against Wakefield next Sunday.

A closer look at what happened

A small but defiant group of travelling supporters voiced their frustration towards club officials in the stand, their chants of “you’re not fit to run the club” met with sympathetic applause from Hull fans.

Hull wasted no time asserting dominance. Martin crossed in the corner inside two minutes before turning provider for Harvey Barron to score under the posts. Jed Cartwright latched onto a clever Will Pryce kick to make it three, and Barron’s second followed moments later after sharp handling down the right.

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Martin’s second try arrived with barely 20 minutes played, swiftly followed by Cartwright’s second of the evening. Davy Litten then charged over, before Martin completed his hat-trick inside the opening half-hour. Cade Cust added another before the interval to complete a half in which Salford’s only touches came from restarts.

Martin’s fourth try came early in the second half, before Herman Ese’ese powered through a depleted Salford defence reduced to 12 men. Amir Bourouh crossed against his former club, Litten claimed his second, and Briscoe’s landmark try came courtesy of Zak Hardaker, who also landed 12 goals.

Salford at least avoided another whitewash, Brad Dwyer scoring a late consolation to prevent a repeat of February’s 82-0 humiliation at St Helens.