Super 8s: Salford Red Devils 52-14 Huddersfield Giants

Niall Evalds returned at full-back for Salford and scored his 14th try in 18 Super League appearances this season

Salford ran in nine tries against Huddersfield for their first win in nine games to keep their slim hopes of a Super League play-offs place alive.

The hosts stunned the Giants with five tries in the first half to take a commanding 30-4 lead at the break.

Manu Vatuvei and Jake Bibby added quick scores after the break before Oliver Roberts got a second for Huddersfield.

But Ben Murdoch-Masila and Josh Jones wrapped up Salford's biggest victory of the season.

With two games remaining, Salford are three points below the top four and travel to Leeds Rhinos next week.

Huddersfield, out of contention for the play-offs, face an away trip to St Helens.

• READ MORE: Castleford Tigers record eighth straight victory

• READ MORE: Wigan boost play-off hopes

Centre Robert Lui had a hand in everything for Salford as his side ran riot in the first 40 minutes at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Gareth O'Brien, in for Todd Carney at half-back, kicked his side into an early lead before Kris Welham collected Lui's spilled kick for his first of the afternoon.

Tries from Tyrone McCarthy, Vatuvei, another from Welham and Niall Evalds followed before Jermaine McGillvary finally replied for Huddersfield.

Rick Stone's half-time team talk fell on deaf ears as the Giants conceded two tries straight after the restart before putting up a brief period of resistance - but winger Gene Ormsby had a day to forget with a huge individual error-count.

Murdoch-Masila and Jones made it nine tries before Huddersfield's Ryan Hinchcliffe got the final score of the game.

Salford coach Ian Watson: "I don't think we have been as good as that in a game-plan for some time. The boys out there have done themselves proud.

"I thought we won the energy battle. We are a team that like to play and I thought we did some things really well.

"This has been a real tough period for us with a number of losses but I've always said we'd learn things as a group because the Super 8s has been a new experience for us.

"We have just got to worry about ourselves. The table will look after itself. We have been focusing on us rather than worry about chasing a Grand Final. We will take each step as it comes."

Huddersfield coach Rick Stone: "We weren't at the races today. Salford turned up with some real intent and they ran and tackled harder.

"I am disappointed for a lot of people at the club, especially our fans. I'd like to think it's something we can get over quickly.

"We haven't had a good record here. We prepared well but were gutted to lose to Castleford last week and maybe that took a bit out of us.

"You have go out there and have some pride in your performance, but we were found wanting."

Salford: Evalds, Bibby, Welham, Sa'u, Vatuvei, Lui, O'Brien, Kopczak, Tomkins, Hauraki, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, McCarthy.

Replacements: A. Walne, Brining, Lannon, J. Walne.

Huddersfield: Rankin, McGillvary, Mellor, Turner, Ormsby, Gaskell, Brough, Ikahihifo, Leeming, Ta'ai, Roberts, Ferguson, Hinchcliffe.

Replacements: O'Brien, Rapira, Lawrence, Clough.

Referee: James Child (RFL)