Salford v Hull Kingston Rovers.

After being top dogs for a number of years Hull Kingston Rovers’ success faded at the back end of the 1980s. The team spent time in Rugby League’s third tier during the 90s and as Super League started the Robins were a forgotten club. The club gained momentum in the early 2000s and were promoted to the top flight at the end of the 2006 season. Steady progress was made before being relegated in 2016 in that famous Million pound game against Salford.

Rovers came straight back up to Super League and for the past few years have really made their mark. Many say they have put cross city rivals Hull Fc in the shade. Crowds are up and they are playing a good brand of rugby. Their is a real buzz around Craven Park and the East side of Hull.

Championship winners in 1979,1984 and 1985 along with a glorious Challenge Cup final victory over Hull in 1980 made the Robins one of the most famous names in the sport. Like Salford though their last major trophy seems a lifetime ago as the wait goes on for both these clubs.

In recent Super League years Rovers has competed well making the playoffs on a number of occasions as well as some exciting Cup runs. In 2024 they have started in very impressive fashion beating Hull away on the opening night and last weekend saw off Leeds Rhinos.

Salford picked up a hard fought victory over Castleford last Sunday in a very entertaining match. Marc Sneyd was once again the architect creating chances with his brilliant kicking game. Sam Stone scores two tries and in my opinion he’s developed into one of the best back rowers in the league. With Shane Wright getting back to full fitness Salford have a very capable second row.

Nene McDonald scooped the man of the match award last Sunday and he looks a real quality acquisition to the side.

Super League home record.

Salford 6

Draws 1

Hull Kingston Rovers 7

2007 Salford 24 Hull kr 30

2009 Salford 10 Hull Kr 14

2010 Salford 18 Hull Kr 44

2011 Salford 34 Hull Kr 18

2012 Salford 10 Hull Kr 18

2013 Salford 38 Hull Kr 34

2014 Salford 16 Hull Kr 16

2015 Salford 31 Hull Kr 18

2016 Salford 44 Hull Kr 26

2016 Salford 12 Hull Kr 29 (Qualifiers)

2018 Salford 36 Hull Kr 12

2019 Salford 17 Hull Kr 16

2022 Salford 16 Hull Kr 26

2023 Salford 10 Hull Kr 24

They played for both.

Here are a selection of players to have represented The Robins and The Red Devils,

Greg Austin, Ryan Lannon, Colin Dixon, Greg Burke, Chris Charles, Michael Dobson, Sean Gleeson, Darrell Goulding, David Hodgson, Lee Jewitt, Justin Carney, Jordan Walne, Phil Joseph, Tommy Lee, Tyrone McCarthy, Craig Murdock, Cory Paterson, Gareth Price, Scott Taylor, Dan Murray, Tony Puletua, Richard Smith, Iain Thornley, Sam Luckley, Ken Sio, Kris Welham and Todd Carney.

A MATCH TO REMEMBER Sunday 24th February 2013.

Salford 38 Hull Kr 34.

Salford picked up their first win of the season thanks to a Danny Williams try six minutes from time.

Hull KR led 34-14 until the Reds stormed back scoring four converted tries without reply from the Robins.

Defeat was hard to take for Michael Dobson who piled up 18 points with two tries and five goals, but the Reds had the man of the match in Mark Sneyd.

Both sides finished with 12 men after Reds prop Lee Jewitt and Rovers forward Adam Walker were sent off after tempers flared late on.

Salford handed ex-Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson his debut; with prop Darrell Griffin, signed on loan from Leeds, making his bow off the bench.

The Reds suffered a blow when Jodie Broughton pulled out before the kick off through illness with Ashley Gibson deputising; although skipper Stephen Wild returned after a two-match absence.

Salford, watched for the first time by new Director of Rugby Graham Lowe, fell behind after seven minutes when Dobson and Greg Eden combined to send David Hodgson over in the corner against his old club.

Dobson booted the touchline conversion and Rovers would have gone further ahead had Omari Caro not spilled Salter’s pass with the line open.

The Reds joy was shortlived after a Gibson error led to Dobson touching down for a converted try to make it 12-0.

Salford hit back with Sneyd’s long pass allowing Gibson to cut inside for his third try of the season.

Sneyd was involved again with Gibson beating Cari to a neat kick for his second touchdown in four minutes.

But Sneyd was again off target with the conversion attempt to leave the Reds trailing 12-8.

Griffin was introduced after 25 minutes and made an immediate impact with some strong running.

But it took an sublime move by Sneyd to put Salford in front for the first time.

The scrum half stole the ball off Eden to dart over and boot the conversion to make it 14-12.

Eden made amends when he took Cory Paterson’s smart pass to send Dobson streaking over within a minute to restore the Rovers lead at 18-14.

The final delivery looked suspiciously forward but there was no dispute about Eden’s pass to Caro which stretched the advantage to 24-14 three minutes before the break.

Dale Ferguson had a try disallowed for a foul on Jack Murphy from Dobson’s high kick.

Eden took only four minutes of the second half to put Rovers into a more commanding position when he took Dobson’s pass to round Murphy and make it 30-14.

Eden bagged a second before Gleeson had a try disallowed and then Andrew Dixon notched his first since his move from St Helens.

Battling Salford cut the gap to 34-26 through Murphy’s converted try on the hour.

Gleeson and Williams went close for Salford with Rovers under the real pressure and it was no surprise when Wayne Godwin burrowed over.

Sneyd’s conversion made it 34-32 with eight minutes left before Salford regained the lead when Ryan McGoldrick’s kick bounced nicely for Williams to score the decisive try.

The teams that night;

Salford

Jack Murphy, Danny Williams, Martin Gleeson, Rhys Williams, Ashley Gibson, Ryan Mcgoldrick, Marc Sneyd, Lee Jewitt, Wayne Godwin, Shannon McPherson, Matty Ashurst, Andrew Dixon, Stephen Wild.

Subs, Stuart Howarth, Ryan Boyle, Jordan James, Darrell Griffin.

Hull Kr

Greg Eden, Omari Caro, Kris Welham, Liam Salter, David Hodgson, Craig Hall, Michael Dobson, Evarn Tuimavave, Josh Hodgson, Adam Walker, Constantine Mika, Cory Paterson, Dale Ferguson.

Subs, Mickey Paea, Graeme Horne, Rhys Lovegrove, Keale Carlisle.

Referee, Thierry Alibert.

Attendance, 1,989.

Saturday’s match.

Former Salford favourite Niall Evalds will return with his new club on Saturday. Evalds has looked looked very sharp playing on the wing for the Robins. Joe Burgess has not yet played for Rovers since his departure from Salford.

Both teams like to play an exciting brand of rugby so this should be a thrilling match.

Matt Parcell is keep around the ruck as well as being a very astute distributor at dummy half. Mikey Lewis is fast becoming one of the best halves in the country and he can make Rovers tick. In the pack a player that always impresses me is James Batchelor. He’s a big athletic lad with a good turn of pace. Jez Litten is an unsung hero and a talented player that tends to go under the radar.

Salford showed in the early stages against Castleford that they can dominate a game. I think Rovers will be a more streetwise than the Tigers and a lot more organised. If Marc Sneyd can produce another performance like his first two this season then the Red Devils have a great chance. His link up play with Cade Cust will be vital.

Amir Bourouh played big minutes last Sunday as he matures into a first team regular.

The bookmakers have the Robins as favourites with Salford having an eight point start on the coupon.

The action gets under way at 5:30pm.

Safe travels and enjoy the match.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.