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Hull 32-18 Salford: Hosts start Super 8s campaign with a win
Hull began their Super 8s campaign with a 32-18 win over Salford. We have a full report and reaction.
Match Stats: Hull 32-18 Salford
Hull tries: Kelly (14), Tuimavave (16,60), Talanoa (48), Connor (51)
Goals: Connor (14,16,40,48,51,60)
Salford tries: Vatuvei (11,65), Evalds (26), Lui (32)
Goals: Lui (33)
Match report
Hull started the Super 8s by beating Salford 32-18 at the KCOM Stadium to keep alive their hopes of a play-off place.
This was a game between two sides who experienced contrasting fortunes in the Challenge Cup semi-finals last weekend, and two tries from Carlos Tuimavave and a stand-out show from Jake Connor helped Hull over the line.
Salford, who were beaten by Wigan five days earlier to see their cup hopes dashed, opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
Manu Vatuvei had only been in the country a couple of days before the semi-final, but he scored his first try in the Super 8s when Hull switched off defensively on their right side. Todd Carney missed the conversion, but Salford led 4-0.
The lead lasted barely five minutes. Following a penalty, Albert Kelly made amends for knocking on when trying to catch the opening kick-off, easing his way through the Red Devils defence to score his 19th try of the season.
Connor's conversion gave cup finalists Hull a 6-4 lead after 15 minutes of the Super League clash.
It got better for Hull in their next set when Connor, despite taking a blow to the face, provided the try assist for Tuimavave to slide over. Connor recovered from his knock to extend Hull's lead to 12-4.
Niall Evalds scored a superb solo try teasing Jamie Shaul and Tuimavave one way then the other before diving over the try line. Carney was off target with his conversion attempt to leave Salford trailing 12-8 after 28 minutes.
The visitors restored parity in their next set when Robert Lui powered his way over the line. Lui took over the goal-kicking duties from Carney and duly added the extras to put Salford in front 14-12.
When Craig Kopczak hauled down Albert Kelly with the Hull man in possession of the ball, it gave Connor the chance to level the score at half-time at 14-14 with a 30-metre penalty.
Hull regained the lead seven minutes into the second half with a well-crafted score. Connor's kick was timed perfectly for Fetuli Talanoa to climb high, gather the ball and ground it before Salford could react. Connor converted for a 20-14 lead.
Connor was highly influential for Hull, deputising for Marc Sneyd, and he found a way over the line shortly after Talanoa's try. And from in front of the posts, his right boot made it 26-14 for Lee Radford's side.
Hull were in control of the game and extended their lead further on the hour mark when Connor's third try assist allowed Tuimavave over for his second try of the night. Connor's perfect night continued with his sixth successful kick from six to push Hull further in front 32-14.
Vatuvei scored a consolation unconverted try with 13 minutes remaining, but it was to be Hull's night to celebrate.
Match reaction
Hull coach Lee Radford on his players' performance: "Naturally, energy levels were down for both sides. The official was chalk and cheese to last weekend.
"And I hope the 8s are going to be quicker as that wasn't a great advert for our game and I hope that improves. We did enough to get the result.
"This win sets us up nicely for Saints and I'd love to go and put a sterling performance in against a side in good form. It should be a good contest. The next two games are big for us."
On the absence of Marc Sneyd: "We look more disjointed when Marc is not out there. But you get sparks of brilliance from Jake. He set up two or three tries for us. There was plenty of effort but we didn't look to be on the same page as we have been when we have been on song this year.
"We kept them to 18 points and I'll take that every game. It's a magic number for us."
Salford coach Ian Watson on his side's display: "I thought we started the game well. The first and second halves were completely different.
"We shut them down a bit in the first half, but we were poor in the second half. I knew they would come strong in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
"We turned over too much ball and looked like we didn't know what to do when we were under the pump. We don't want to fall back into the team we were at the start of last season."