Hull Kingston Rovers v Salford.

Well it’s soon come round again. I raced home from work to see the Cup draw when it was made a few weeks ago and with us being drawn out so early it was a bit of an anticlimax. Hull Kingston Rovers beat us comfortably in the cup last season at a time when our season began to unravel. I don’t think we really recovered after that defeat. The Robins went on to reach the final and played in that memorable match against Leigh coming up just short.

Both sides have a tremendous tradition with this competition but both have had there fair share of heart break too. Rovers like Salford have won the cup just once back in 1980. Salford’s only success was in 1938.

The Challenge Cup always feels like the one that got away for Salford. Throughout the glory years of the 70s the club either under performed or got a tough away draw and Wembley always seemed to escape us. After fifty one years of waiting Salford finally reached the final in 2020 but with the country in the middle of a pandemic the match was played behind closed doors. Surely the clubs luck will change and the tide will turn eventually.

I thought Salford were the better side last Thursday against Wigan. A few wrong options costing us the two points but you’ve got to admire the way we are playing the game, especially with the personnel we have missing. Hull Kingston Rovers were excellent last Saturday beating Huddersfield very comfortably away from home. Looking at the season so far I don’t think there is a lot to choose between most of the teams. In the end it will probably come down to the size of your squad. Wigan and St.Helens are looking like the teams to beat.

Challenge Cup record.

Hull Kingston Rovers 5

Draws 1

Salford 4

1901, Hull Kingston Rovers 4 Salford 0.

1946, Hull Kingston Rovers 0 Salford 0.

1946, Salford 38 Hull Kingston Rovers 6.

1957, Hull Kingston Rovers 2 Salford 10.

1981, Hull Kingston Rovers 19 Salford 8.

2003, Hull Kingston Rovers 2 Salford 12.

2011, Salford 0 Hull Kingston Rovers 25.

2017, Salford 24 Hull Kingston Rovers 14.

2019, Salford 18 Hull Kingston Rovers 32.

2023, Hull Kingston Rovers 28 Salford 10.

They played for both.

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

Greg Austin, 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, Tony Puletua, Richard Smith, Iain Thornley, Kris Welham, Chris Atkin, Ken Sio, Adam Walker, Ryan Lannon and Sam Luckley.

A match to remember Friday 28th February 2003.

Hull Kr 2 Salford 12 Challenge cup.

A dark, cold and wet February night in East Hull seemed a long way from the razzmatazz of summer rugby. With driving rain and the wind blowing a gale from the North Sea close by this was always going to be a tricky tie.

The pitch started to cut up early with mud that it was hard to tell the two sides apart.

It wasn’t a night for fancy off loads and miracle plays but one for honest toil and endeavour. Karl Harrison’s side of 2003 had plenty of that but also had a steely determination and professionalism. I suppose some might say an edge to the way they played and this become more evident as this season progressed.

Despite the low score there was plenty of excitement. Alan Hunte and Stuart Littler crossing for tries which Gavin Clinch converted. The Robins only points coming from a Lynton Stott penalty goal.

It was becoming a really exciting cup run for the City Reds after victories at home to feisty French side Toulouse and on the road in Cumbria at Barrow.

The 2-12 victory at Craven Park set up a home quarter final with St. Helens.

The teams that night were;

Hull Kr,

Poucher, Pinkney, Stott, Farrell, Blanchard, Parker, Murdock, Wilson, Pickering, Bovill, Sullivan, Aston, Smith.

Subs, Walker, Cochrane, Andrews and Fletcher.

Salford City Reds,

Flowers, Platt, Littler, Hunte, Arnold, Beverley, Clinch, Baynes, Alker, Coley, Baldwin, Lowe, Charles.

Subs, P.Highton, D. Highton, Haggerty and Gorski.

Referee, Richard Silverwood.

Attendance, 2,533.

Friday’s match.

Salford coach Paul Rowley will be forced into making changes. Forwards Ben Hellewell and Brad Singleton are both injured for the next few weeks but Cade Cust is set to return. Gil Dudson has returned to Salford on loan from Warrington and he is certainly a welcome addition. The Robins will be without play maker Mikey Lewis after he failed a head assessment in last weekends victory at Huddersfield.

Salford have the ability to score points and be a big threat for any team. This has been proven over the opening rounds of the League season. Sam Stone and Kallum Watkins have both looked particularly dangerous running the channels and with Joe Shorrocks sweeping everything up at loose forward the Salford pack is a very mobile one. A lot will be expected of Marc Sneyd and his astute kicking game but if he can nail it again the Red Devils have a great chance of progressing to the Quarter Finals.

The Robins are a very good home side and the big vocal support they get can be worth a six point start. I think in games like this you need a good positive start to quieten the crowd down and take the sting out of the atmosphere. If you start on the back foot in modern day Rugby League it can be very difficult to stop the momentum of the opposition.

Former Salford favourite Niall Evalds has made a thrilling start to his career in East Hull and with Mikey Lewis injured, Evalds could revert to full back if Robins coach Willie Peters moves Peter Hiku into the halves.

The bookies have the home side as favourites with Salford on a ten point start.

The action gets under way at 8pm.

Safe travels and enjoy the match.

Paul Whiteside.

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