Salford Red Devils were edged out by two points for the second successive week, as Hull Kingston Rovers claimed the victory when the two sides met at the Dacia Magic Weekend.
A brace of tries from Ken Sio had helped put Salford level with less than ten minutes remaining at Anfield, but Ryan Shaw sealed the result with a penalty from 35 metres out.
70′ SALFORD TRY!!!
Quick hands from Jackson Hastings out to Ken Sio who goes over in the corner to level the scoring!!
(20-20)#SLSalHKR pic.twitter.com/I9RbpKsemX— Salford Red Devils (@SalfordDevils) May 26, 2019
Kane Linnett opened the scoring, as he had when the sides last met. Rovers moved the ball left and he dived over. Shaw converted and then extended the lead with a penalty in the 26th minute.
A mix-up at the back then let Craig Hall pounce on a loose ball to score KR’s second try, before Pauli Pauli was sin-binned to reduce the Red Devils to 12-men.
Salford managed to prevent Rovers adding another, despite being a man down. George Lawler was held-up in the 31st minute and then Joey Lussick got his side on the scoreboard just before the break. He went under the posts from the foot of the ruck in his typical manner.
Half time: Salford Red Devils 6-14 Hull KR
Craig Hall capitalised on another mix-up from a kick through to claim his second try, shortly after half-time.
Pauli Pauli then crashed over for the Red Devils to cut the deficit back to two scores, before a delightful combination between Kris Welham and Jackson Hastings saw Sio fly over down the left flank. Krisnan Inu hit the post from the resulting conversion attempt, which would turn out to be crucial.
Sio then took then dived over in the corner again with less than 10 minutes to go. The decision was sent up to the video referee, who confirmed he had grounded the ball and the scores were level.
Rovers were then given a penalty 35 metres out in the 73rd minute and Ryan Shaw slotted over to clinch the result.
Salford now have a weekend off to refocus and prepare for their return to Super League action, against Hull FC.
❤️ @JackoHastings presented his match shirt to @jansinturgut‘s partner, Steph after today’s #MagicWeekend game.#TogetherStronger #TheresOnlyOneJansinTurgut pic.twitter.com/3rz0U54hSK
— Salford Red Devils (@SalfordDevils) May 26, 2019
Salford tries: Lussick (39), Pauli (53), SIo (57, 71)
Salford goals: Krisnan Inu (2/4)
Hull KR: Linnett (21), Hall (27, 44)
Hull KR goals: Shaw (5/5)
Salford Red Devils: Evalds, Sio, Welham, Inu, Sio, Lui, Hastings, Mossop, Lussick, Dudson, Jones, Griffin, Burke, Bibby, McCarthy, Pauli, Walker
Hull Kingston Rovers: Hall, Crooks, Keinhorst, Linnett, Shaw, McGuire, Drinkwater, Masoe, Addy, Mulhern, Hauraki, Tomkins, Lawler, Atkin, Lunt, Garbutt, Maria
Referee: Ben Thaler
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