Salford City Reds are on the brink of being condemned to National League One, after suffering a defeat at the hands of fellow relegation threatened compatriots Hull Kingston Rovers.

The clubs battled it out in front of a near-record crowd, for this season anyway, at The Willows, with Rovers  dominating the second half to condemn Salford to almost odds-on relegation. Both sides face tough fixtures after this game, and with only five games left in which to recover a difference of three points, Salford need a minimum of  two victories to have any hope.

They held the advantage in the early stages, David Hodgson making a long-range break, before finding half-back Luke Robinson, who fired out a pass to new winger Richie Barnett Jnr, signed recently from Warrington Wolves. But Andy Coley was sent to the sin-bin after taking the ball from a Rovers player as they looked to take a quick tap on the 20-metre line.

'With only five games left in which to recover a difference of three points, Salford need a minimum of two victories to have any hope'


In Coley's absence, the Robins lifted their game and pressurised the Reds into mistakes. Pressure soon turned to points, and when Coley returned he found his team behind at 10-6.

Things were squared up in comical fashion, when James Webster broke before passing to supporting Mark O'Neill, who slipped and crawled to the line - just managing to ground the ball. And soon controversial cross-city transfer signing Paul Cooke instigated the next try for Rovers, starting and finishing the move in clinical fashion.

Simon Finnigan did put the hosts back in front before half time, spinning and holding off two challenges to cross. But Rovers coach Justin Morgan's words at half time inspired KR to do considerable damage in a whirlwind ten minutes.

It was Cooke again who dominated the second half. He tagged on two points to a quick fire try from O'Neill, who "bagged his first brace since playing against England schoolboys", he [O'Neill] said jokingly after the match.

Cooke then tagged on another two points from a penalty before, minutes later, firing out a wonderful long pass to winger Mark Lennon to cross in the corner and make it 24-12 to Rovers. Salford were sinking fast without a trace.

Luke Dyer continued the anguish for Salford, adding on another try to make it 28-12. But Salford did retain a brief glimmer of hope when Aaron Moule latched on to Luke Robinson's short kick in a rare spell of pressure, only for Cooke to add on another two points at the other end, to give Rovers a 12-point lead going into the last ten minutes.

Danny Ward was sent to the sin bin late on for a high tackle, but it was nothing more than a minor negative to Rovers' performance, despite Salford scoring late on from David Hodgson.

The result puts Hull KR on 16 points, three clear of rivals Salford, with Catalans sandwiched between them on 15. Catalans' exemption from relegation means that even if Salford do finish 11th, above Catalans, they are still relegated.

It is hard to find any hope for Salford, when their run-in includes the likes of Leeds, St Helens and Wigan in their next three fixtures.