As another month ticks by the future of Salford RLFC looks bleaker by the day. This season has took its toll on the staff and players. For me personally speaking as a supporter it’s been without doubt the darkest time I’ve had following the club. I used to get so excited in the days leading up to the match. Now it feels like we are constantly worrying about what the future holds. It’s like our club is in a coma, hanging on by a thread with the threat of being switched off permanently. I’ve said it for months now but even a message of reassurance, a plan for the future, a small statement saying we do care about this great historical club from the people who own it would just ease the worry and anxiety of the supporters.

In sport loyalty can be brutal. It can test you emotionally, sometimes to breaking point. Keeping the faith gets mentioned from time to time and for the loyal Salford supporters that’s about all they can do at this moment in time. 

With it being that time of the month the news in the rugby league media circus was once again reporting about the wages at Salford. It’s something that seems to come round once a month so I am expecting the same again at the end of august. When the squads were announced on Tuesday Paul Rowley named twenty one players but unfortunately Oliver Russell who’s been on loan from Wakefield for the last two matches wasn’t in so presumably he’s returned to Trinity. 

Hull Kingston Rovers arrived as table toppers but had lost two out of their last three matches. Coach Willie Peters named a strong starting thirteen with Arthur Mourgue at fullback, Mikey Lewis and Tyrone May in the halves. Rhyse Martin started in the second row with Sauaso Sue and Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves up front.

 Salford’s starting line up significantly changed from our last match just under a fortnight ago.

Chris Hill, Ethan Ryan, Chris Hankinson, Joe Shorrocks and Dan Russell were all missing from the seventeen 

Rowley started with Sam Hill on the wing, Tom Whitehead and Toby Warren played in the centres. Charlie Glover, Finlay Yates and Jamie Pye made the bench.

It was a fine dry evening in Salford. Slightly cooler than of late but perfect conditions for Rugby league and as always the pitch looked immaculate. 

The Robins got off to a blistering start scoring three tries in the opening nine minutes. They moved the ball wide at every opportunity and the pace they possessed looking frightening. Mourgue managed just one conversion from the three tries to give Rovers a 0-14 lead.

Loghan Lewis was caught high by the shoulder of Waerea-Hargreaves. This sparked Salford into a response as a little bit of needle crept in. The two sides squared up and when Justin Sangare stormed on to the ball his momentum took him over for a well deserved Salford try. Rovers captain Elliot Minchella seemed to question every decision made by the referee and in the aftermath of the try May was sin binned for what looked like dissent. 

It was Mikey Lewis who took the game away from Salford. His architectural skills created four tries leading up to half time. Two kicks set Joe Burgess up for a brace. In between those two tries Lewis set Martin up with a flat pass and Jez Litten with more super footwork. 6-34 at half time.

The Robins started the second half with the same destructive tempo. Two more kicks set up two more tries for Burgess before Lewis broke away to score one. 

Mourgue and Tom Davies added tries to put the visitors 6-64 up.

Not once did I hear a boo from the home supporters. Instead they cheered every scrap of hope from their battling young side. The players never gave up and kept forcing their way towards the Rovers try line. A few powerful drives got Salford in range before Glover charged over showing tremendous strength and desire to ground the ball. 

Martin and Litten scored tries as the clock counted down. With twenty seconds remaining fullback Declan Murphy spilled the ball in his own half. The Red Devils scrambled to defend the situation to prevent Rovers hitting eighty points.

Every player in the Salford seventeen stood up and gave their all. Quite a few players on show are clearly not ready to be playing Super League rugby every week but under the circumstances they are holding their hand up and putting their bodies on the line. This is certainly very commendable and will definitely stand them in good stead for the future. 

At the moment it’s a very difficult situation for Salford’s players and supporters. With seven matches left we all hope that things will get better but at the moment the off field problems show no sign of easing.

Salford 12 Hull Kingston Rovers 74.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.