Devils the better as Hull suffer first loss

SALFORD made it back-to-back wins with a hard-fought 17-10 victory over previously unbeaten Hull KR at the Salford Community Stadium.

SALFORD RED DEVILS 17
HULL KINGSTON RVRS 10

Deon Cross and Chris Hankinson scored first-half tries for the Red Devils, while Marc Sneyd kicked four goals from as many attempts as well as a crucial drop goal with nine minutes remaining to clinch victory.

Both sides had a player sent to the sin bin in an increasingly frantic second half, with Cross of Salford and Hull KR's Peta Hiku shown yellow cards.

Trailing 16-0, Hull KR mounted a late fightback with tries from Hiku and Jez Litten, but it proved too little too late as Salford held on for victory, ending Rovers' hopes of winning three games at the start of a Super League season for the first time.

Salford's recent star signing, Samoa winger David Nofoaluma, did not make the starting line-up despite being named in the 21-man squad by coach Paul Rowley.

Hull KR boss Willie Peters recalled Matt Parcell, Dean Hadley and Sam Luckley and gave winger Joe Burgess his debut against the club he left two months ago.