Salford edge back into play-off positions after win over Hull

Salford leapfrogged St Helens into sixth place in the Super League table after they beat Hull 29-22 at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Salford were boosted by the returns of Samoa representatives Tim Lafai and Ken Sio, the latter making his 250th career appearance.

Meanwhile, Hull prop Chris Satae played his 100th game of his professional career.

It was a good start for Hull, who scored less than four minutes in to the game as Jake Clifford showed good support play for an Adam Swift break.

But Salford soon hit back with a try of their own through Tyler Dupree, who burst over from close range with a powerful carry.

Hull went back in front midway through the first half as Jake Trueman punched a hole in the Salford defence, with Clifford converting.

The Red Devils regained the lead on the half hour mark as Deon Cross latched onto a neat grubber from Brodie Croft to score.

And a fine bit of instinctive play from Marc Sneyd saw Ryan Brierley touch down just before the half-time hooter. Sneyd’s conversion put Paul Rowley’s side in a 18-10 advantage at the break.

Salford ahead at the break

Hull started the second half well and pulled one back shortly after the restart through winger Darnell McIntosh, with Clifford adding the extras.

But the Red Devils extended their lead in the 50th minute when Sneyd crossed the whitewash after a smart passing move.

Hull refused to throw the towel in and came back again through Josh Griffin. Clifford converted and they were only 24-22 behind with 22 minutes left on the clock.

Salford hooker Andy Ackers left the field for a head injury assessment in the 68th minute and didn’t return to the action.

Sio marked his return to the team by scoring in the corner to put the Red Devils in a 28-22 lead with eight minutes left.

Sneyd sealed the win for Salford in the latter stages of the game with a drop goal before being sin-binned in the final 10 seconds.

Salford: Brierley; Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess; Croft, Sneyd; Dupree, Ackers, Vuniyayawa, Watkins, Stone, Partington. Subs: Atkin, Ormondroyd, Sidlow, Hellewell. 18th man: Costello.

Tries: Dupree, Cross, Brierley, Sneyd, Sio Goals: Sneyd 4 Drop Goals: Sneyd 1

Hull: Hoy; McIntosh, Scott, Sutcliffe, Swift; Trueman, Clifford; Sao, Houghton, Fash, Griffin, Lane, Cator. Subs: Satae, Brown, Taylor, Dwyer. 18th man: McNamara.

Tries: Clifford, Trueman, McIntosh, Griffin Goals: Clifford 3

Attendance: 4,569

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