It was another wintry night as the two sides walked out prior to kick off. 

Hull FC had former Salford hooker Amir Bourouh starting at number nine with Cade Cust on the bench. New signings Harvie Hill and Joe Batchelor started in the pack with Jake Arthur and Aidan Sezer were the halves.

Mike Grady had to shuffle his Salford side with injuries picked up in recent weeks, Sam Hill was missing with a hamstring problem.

Matty Ross moved to fullback with Rafael Van Osselaer slotted in on the wing with Jack Gatcliffe moving into the halves with Toby Hughes. 

From the kick off Owen Haldenby collided with Jed Cartwright with both players needing treatment from the respective medical staff. They both left the field for head assessments.

The visitors scored two quick tries Yusuf Aydin went over after a slice of fortune as he charged a kick down. Davey Litten then went over as the gulf in sheer size and physicality stood out like a sore thumb. 

Despite Hull’s dominance the young Salford side worked hard to stem the tide. Matty Ross took plenty of pressure kicks and Oliver Garmston worked like a relentless machine. He was everywhere tackling, chasing kicks and always a willing runner.

You’d have to be a little naive if you thought Salford were going to win this game. Sport is about levels and with Super League about to start next week John Cartwright’s Hull side were using this match as a dress rehearsal to sharpen their tools. 

The Airlie birds added two more tries but what summed up this Salford side was an outstanding try saving tackle just before the break. Garmston, Deacon Connolly and Van Osselaer were all involved and somehow managed to twist the Hull player on to his back over the line. That level of commitment isn’t something that comes easy. That is desire and team spirit, this young Salford side has that in abundance. 

The fitness levels were always going to tell in the second half and Hull played a simplified game plan. They were strong and direct, powering through a Salford defence that had no answer to their onslaught. 

Seven second half tries gave the score line a very one sided look. Hull were pretty clinical and deserved the victory and the 0-60 score.

Salford never gave up and tried desperately to get on the score sheet but it wasn’t to be. A few weeks ago against Oldham there was no hiding the fact that our side had been patched together in a short space of time. Over the last few weeks we are starting to look like a team. Structures are starting to fall into place on attack and defence. Players now look a lot more comfortable in the position they are playing in. I don’t want to sound like I am repeating myself but Salford have a team full of players who are mostly just starting out on their Rugby League journey at this level. It’s a very unforgiving sport at times with no sentiment once the game kicks off. Lessons are being learnt on the job in a brutal kind of way. Yes it’s character building but it’s also going to be a very tough journey where supporters will have to be patient and manage their expectations.

Salford are back in league action when they face Hunslet next Sunday.

Salford 0 Hull FC 60.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for photos.