Salford City Reds 18 Hull FC 35

There can be no denying that this was a big one. Hull have under-achieved just as much as us this term & taking them on at home would have to be targeted as a possible 2 points. Our recent record versus Hull has been poor but we've been desperately unlucky on occasions, not least last season when they controversially grabbed a last minute win at The Willows before kicking a last second drop-goal to win the match at the KC. We definitely owed them, big-time.

The early signs were that the players were just as much up for this one, importantly Mal was back (albeit starting from the bench) while Ian Sibbit had got through his long-awaited comeback at Saints and just as in last season's encounter we were out of the blocks very quickly. We created an opening on the left after just 4 minutes & Moule backed himself before duly finishing the move, Wilshere adding a fine conversion. Amazingly from the kick-off we played out a standard set of six ending with a big kick downfield which Shaun Briscoe adjudged was running dead, he waited & waited & waited for the ball to leave the field until it just hopped up at the last minute to give Luke Dorn time to pounce & make it 12-0 after 6 minutes.

It's fair to say though that none of us were getting carried away, we'd been here before of course (not least last season's corresponding fixture when an early Moule effort set us out to a quick 12 point lead only for us to lose). And so it was that quick hands from Horne put Raynor over in the corner. Cooke missed the conversion but more than made up for it with a fine solo try just moments later, 12-10. Time for some changes & Haggy & Mal came on, with Haggy you just instinctively know what will happen. First touch he charged in with the ball before spilling it at the 1st contact & Domic fed it wide to Sing to scoot over the remaining 20 metres unopposed. 12-16.

Paul Cooke was tormenting us by now and his kick through was comfortably gathered by Tickle to stretch the lead, worse was to follow as once again Mal went down clutching his knee & headed down the tunnel. Thankfully Hull couldn't add to the score against a thoroughly disjointed looking Salford side and we went in just about in touch at 12-22.

Amazingly the 2nd half saw a mini-renaissance, we enjoyed far more possession & Robbo's high kick was collected out left by Wilshere for a good try. The goal was superb & we were only 4 points back from Hull now. Haggy decided to gift Hull another 2 points with a reckless high-shot but we continued to look dangerous with ball in hand. Then with a missed kick for touch from a penalty the whole momentum stopped. That one moment seemed to be when we decided to give it up & Horne added a late drop-goal to seal the points for Hull. What followed was an embarrassing defensive effort from the Reds to allow Horne a late try & causing me to do something I'd always considered alien, I left the ground early. As I made my way to the Tavern I heard a cheer, forcing me to run back in at the Variety Club end to see whether we'd raised some token resistance. I was met by Karaoke Steve, "Don't bother Chris.", he said, "They've scored again pal, get yourself a fucking pint". It was the best advice I could have possibly received.