Hull KR beat Salford to extend lead at top

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (20) 32

Tries: Broadbent 2, Whitbread, Lewis, Opacic, Litten Goals: Lewis 4

Salford (6) 12

Tries: Mellor, Macdonald Goals: Sneyd 2

Hull KR extended their lead at the top of the Super League table by beating Salford Red Devils to secure an eighth consecutive victory.

Jack Broadbent sent the hosts ahead early on but the visitors hit back through Joe Mellor's classy try soon after.

Jai Whitbread and Mikey Lewis scored either side of Broadbent's second as the Robins took control before the break.

Tom Opacic stretched over for their fifth try, with Jez Litten adding another just past the hour mark.

Nene Macdonald's late score was mere consolation for the fourth-placed Red Devils.

The hosts' win gives them a two-point cushion on Wigan Warriors, who travel to Catalans Dragons on Saturday.

Hull KR next visit second-placed Wigan in a crucial fixture on Friday, while play-off candidates Salford saw their top-six hopes suffer a blow following this defeat at Craven Park.

Broadbent's opener for the Robins came courtesy of a clever kick from Niall Evalds, however, Lewis missed the extras.

Salford did not take long to respond as Mellor started a flowing move between Jayden Nikorima and Kallum Watkins, who then teed up Ethan Ryan down the right to return the ball for Mellor to go over.

Lewis later kicked a penalty to level the scores and added a decisive 40-20 deep into the Salford half which led to Whitbread's try. That also came after he was initially dispossessed before he regained the ball to dot down.

Rovers then hit their stride, as Lewis raced in through a gap for their third try, with Broadbent touching down from Matt Parcell's neat kick to round off the half.

Soon after the break, they padded out their lead courtesy of Opacic's turn and stretch to ground the ball on the line after Peta Hiku weaved through the Salford defence in the build-up.

Salford rarely threatened after Mellor's score and were further punished when Litten ran in from dummy half with ease. But they did restore some pride on a chastening evening when Macdonald did well to find the space to run in with four minutes left on the clock.

Hull KR: Evalds; Broadbent, Hiku, Opacic, Hall; May, Lewis; Sue, Parcell, Whitbread, Hadley, Storton, Minchella.

Interchanges: Tanginoa, Litten, Luckley, Brown.

Salford: Hankinson; Ryan, Macdonald, Lafai, Cross; Nikorima, Sneyd; Singleton, Mellor, Wright, Stone, Watkins, Partington.

Interchanges: Atkin, Ormondroyd, Shorrocks, Wilson.

Referee: Jack Smith.