Phil Cartwright

BBC Sport journalist

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (20) 42

Tries: Tanginoa, Gildart, Davies, Broadbent, Whitbread 2, Litten Goals: Martin, Richardson 6

Salford (0) 0

Hull KR continued their perfect start to the Super League season by scoring seven tries in a convincing home victory against below-par Salford Red Devils.

Rovers scored three times in the opening 13 minutes, after which their third successive Super League win – and a third consecutive loss for Salford – never looked in doubt.

Kelepi Tanginoa, Oliver Gildart and Tom Davies all touched down for last season’s beaten Grand Finalists during a dominant opening spell.

Jack Broadbent went over shortly after the interval and Jai Whitbread crossed twice from close range, before Jez Litten’s try rounded off the scoring.

However, Hull KR’s win was tinged with the disappointment of losing both full-back Niall Evalds and second-rower Rhyse Martin to early injuries.

Rovers were already without first-choice half-backs Tyrone May and reigning Man of Steel Mikey Lewis because of their respective injury problems.

Evalds was involved for just over a minute of the match before he was caught by a high tackle by Jayden Nikorima, which resulted in a yellow card for the Salford man.

While Evalds went off for a head injury assessment (HIA) which he subsequently failed, his replacement Tanginoa made an immediate impact, breaking through a couple of Salford tackles to score almost straight after his introduction.

Gildart and Davies then made the most of overlaps out wide to make it 16-0.

Indiscipline did not help Salford’s cause, with Danny Richardson – who took on goal-kicking duties after Martin was forced off with a knock – slotting through two penalties to extend the hosts’ advantage to 20 points by half-time.

Broadbent marked his 100th career appearance with a second-half try, the centre darting through a gap to run in from 25 metres, before Whitbread’s double and a seventh Hull KR try from Litten completed the scoring.

Salford, who had Chris Hill sin-binned late on for holding down a tackled player, endured a frustrating night and were well below their best.

They remain at the bottom of the table, their start to the campaign having been heavily disrupted by off-field matters, with a takeover deal being approved earlier this month.

Hull KR winger Tom Davies told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra:

“Obviously it’s never good to get injuries but it’s great to see the lads pull together in the way that they did.

“Everyone was pushing and whoever is in what position, no matter where you are, you turn up for your team-mates and I thought the boys were brilliant.

“That’s what we train for – to make sure everyone’s ready.

“We’re getting that connection now and it’s starting to flow a bit more. Hopefully it can keep progressing like that.”

Salford head coach Paul Rowley told BBC Radio Manchester:

“It was probably one of the worst performances I’ve been involved with at this club. Everybody was looking for answers on the field but the first place everybody needs to look is at themselves and that includes me.

“We were fragile on both sides of the ball, but everything starts with defence and I thought our defence was as pathetic as it could get really. We’ve got to stick together and work this one out.

“It [the previous uncertainty surrounding the takeover] is a real thing, I can’t dismiss it like it’s not been there for four months. However, you can play the victim for a full season if you want but it’s not going to do anybody any good. We’re paid to play and coach rugby.

“We’ve got to kick that one off our back quickly and move on. It’s a challenge, it’s one we’ve got to face together but find the answers as quickly as possible.”

Hull KR: Evalds; Davies, Broadbent, Gildart, Burgess; Hiku, Richardson; Sue, McIlorum, Waerea-Hargreaves, Martin, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: Litten, Hadley, Whitbread, Tanginoa. 18th man: Luckley.

Salford: Brierley; Macdonald, Marsters, Lafai, Cross; Nikorima, Sneyd; Singleton, Atkin, Ormondroyd, Wright, Watkins, Hill.

Interchanges: Hankinson, Sangare, Bullock, Chan. 18th man: Morgan.

Referee: Aaron Moore.

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