Salford Red Devils were well beaten by Hull KR this evening.
The Red Devils started the contest on the back foot, but some solid defensive work repelled KR for a short while.
Pressure finally told when some quick hands on the left edge released Ryan Hall into the corner.
There was then a lengthy stoppage following a collision between Ryan Brierley and Oliver Gildart, with the former requiring a stretcher to leave the field.
Willie Peters has later revealed the centre has gone to hospital for checks on his neck. Everyone at the club wishes Oliver a speedy recovery.
Play restarted and KR were back on the attack. Shane Wright made an outstanding tackle to deny James Batchelor, but shifting the play left, Evalds sent through Hall for his second of the game.
Evalds was again the creator of KR’s next effort, delaying a pass to draw in Ethan Ryan and release Joe Burgess at just the right time to charge through.
The Robins were right in the ascendancy and Kelepi Tanginoa was the next to go over, bursting up the middle and crashing under the sticks.
Jez Litten tagged on another two via a penalty-goal, just before the interval.
Salford tried to wrestle back momentum at the start of the second 40 with a few repeat sets, but the hosts quickly gained territory and struck again.
Tyrone May was directing traffic before flicking a offload to Peta Hiku, who dabbed a short kick behind the line and raced through to slam down.
The game had already slipped from Salford’s grasp, but further tries from Matty Storton and Evalds confirmed the Robins’ progression into the quarter-finals.
MATCH FACTS:
Salford line-up: Ryan Brierley, Ethan Ryan, Nene Macdonald, Tim Lafai, Deon Cross, Cade Cust, Marc Sneyd, Gil Dudson, Amir Bourouh, Jack Ormondroyd, Kallum Watkins, Sam Stone, Joe Shorrocks.
Interchanges: King Vuniyayawa, Oliver Partington, Chris Atkin, Shane Wright.
Hull KR line-up: Niall Evalds, Joe Burgess, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Ryan Hall, Tyrone May, Jez Litten, Sauaso Sue, Matt Parcell, Jai Whitbread, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella.
Interchanges: Tom Opacic, Sam Luckley, Matty Storton, Kelepi Tanginoa.
Tries: Ryan Hall (2), Joe Burgess, Kelepi Tanginoa, Peta Hiku, Matty Storton, Niall Evalds.
Conversions: Jez Litten (5/6), James Batchelor (1/1)
HT: 24-0
Photo credit: Steve McCormick
