Super League: Salford Red Devils 24-0 London Broncos

Niall Evalds took his tally for the season to four tries, adding to his hat-trick against Huddersfield

Salford Red Devils continued their winning start to the Super League season as they inflicted a first defeat on promoted London Broncos.

The hosts dominated the first period but only scored one try, as Ken Sio touched down from a Josh Jones offload.

Jackson Hastings got their second score soon after the break, capitalising when Niall Evalds' kick through on the last tackle came back off a post.

Evalds and Jones touched down in the closing stages as the Broncos tired.

The Londoners had beaten Wakefield Trinity 42-24 at home last weekend, on what was their return to the top flight following a four-season absence.

However, the visitors had to soak up relentless pressure from Salford and made little impact with the ball going forward, failing to threaten the hosts' line.

Ian Watson's side eventually broke the Broncos' defensive resistance and pressed home their advantage in the second half, although they ended the game with 12 men when Lee Mossop was sin-binned for an altercation with Greg Richards.

Salford lost 16 of their 23 regular-season games last year but have made a promising start to the 2019 campaign, registering a second victory after winning at Huddersfield in their opening game of the season.

The Red Devils are top of the fledgling table and next host Leeds Rhinos, who are bottom after suffering back-to-back defeats, on Sunday, 17 February.

Salford head coach Ian Watson told BBC Radio Manchester:

"We had a bit of a flu bug going around the team this week and the fact the boys have got the job done and been able to defend the way they did for 80 minutes is a credit to them.

"The nil is a big thing, especially on the back of what we faced. Energy levels were a bit low at certain points but the mentality of the players was very resilient.

"I am confident in us and knew that once we could regroup that we would score points.

"London are a dogged team and do not give in, so we had to have composure."

London Broncos head coach Danny Ward told BBC Radio London:

"We can learn in defeat as well as victory. Salford were outstanding in how they went about their game.

"It was quality from them - certainly in the first half - and it took its toll on us and took the juice out of the tank.

"Salford threw a lot at us. We were happy to go in 6-0 but unfortunately we didn't click into gear in the second half and the more it went on, the more we got frustrated."

Salford: Evalds; Olpherts, Welham, Sa'u, Sio; Lui, Hastings; Mossop, Lussick, Dudson, Jones, Turgut, Flanagan.

Interchanges: Griffin, Burke, Nakubuwai, Tomkins.

London Broncos: Walker; Dixon, Morgan, Kear, Williams; Abdull, Cunningham; Mason, Fozard, Richards, Pitts, Gee, Yates.

Interchanges: Battye, Lovell, Ioane, Pelissier.

Referee: James Child.

Attendance: 3,236.