Salford clinch play-off spot to send Hull FC bottom

Betfred Super League

Hull FC (0) 4

Tries: Jebson

Salford Red Devils (28) 58

Tries: Lafai 3, Cross, Mellor 2, Singleton, MacDonald, Wright, Watkins Goals: Sneyd 9

Salford Red Devils confirmed their place in the Super League play-offs with a thumping win that sent Hull FC to the bottom of the table.

The first of Tim Lafai's two first-half tries gave the dominant visitors the early lead, with Deon Cross, Joe Mellor and Brad Singleton also touching down to put Salford 28-0 up at the break.

Nene MacDonald, Shane Wright and Kallum Watkins added three more tries before Lafai completed his hat-trick and Salford passed the 50-point mark.

Zach Jebson then grabbed his first career try for Hull, but it was nothing more than a consolation score as Mellor's second try of the evening was enough to consign the Black and Whites to bottom spot on points difference.

The 10-try performance moves Paul Rowley's Red Devils up to fourth and four points clear of seventh-placed Leeds Rhinos with one regular-season match remaining.

Hull's eighth successive defeat, dating back to July, sees them slip to the foot of the standings and behind London Broncos on points difference ahead of the capital club's trip to Catalans Dragons later on Saturday.

Salford were merciless in the first 40 minutes at Hull's MKM Stadium, with Marc Sneyd's kicking game causing early havoc.

Twice in the first 10 minutes, kicks from Sneyd earned Salford repeat sets that led to tries - the first coming from Lafai after a goal-line drop out and the second from Cross after Logan Moy fumbled a searching high ball from the scrum-half.

Mellor then stepped through a dazed Hull defence from close range, with Singleton going on to crash over for the clinical visitors before Lafai picked off a pass to race 75m for an intercept try.

Moy had a try ruled out for Hull immediately after the break, with video replays confirming a knock-on, and Salford were quick to add to their hosts' woes with a try through MacDonald just two minutes later.

Three more tries in 10 minutes, the best finished by Lafai following a number of superbly-worked offloads, was followed by a late effort from Mellor - but not before Jebson brought a rare roar of enjoyment from the home crowd with Hull's only try.

Tim Lafai grabbed Salford's first try early on and completed his treble in the second half

'It has bought us a ticket' - reaction

Hull FC interim head coach Simon Grix:

"It generally is what it is. We had loads of blokes missing.

"Men versus boys, physically all over us, tactically all over us. It's just where we are.

"From a coaching perspective the young lads are getting better and they are buzzing to represent the club every week."

Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley:

"Solidifying our place in the play-offs was important.

"The one thing that we had in our favour was we had good individuals and we came together as a team. That was our challenge, to be connected against Hull today.

"It's fulfilling as a club, as a group, sitting here with a game to go knowing we are in the top six. It has bought us a ticket and we just need to cash it in now."

Hull FC: Moy; Barron, Litten, Chamberlain, Martin; Charles, Walker; Ese'ese, Smith, Gardiner, Lane, Fash, Aydin.

Interchanges: Ashworth, Balmforth, Chan, Jebson, Laidlaw.

Salford: Brierley; Ryan, Macdonald, Lafai, Cross; Nikorima, Sneyd; Singleton, Mellor, Dudson, Wright, Watkins, Partington.

Interchanges: Shorrocks, Hankinson, Lewis, Bullock, Atkin.

Referee: Aaron Moore.