Littler lands late try to underline Salford's right to place in last eight
Hull KR 2 Salford 1
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Your support makes all the difference.Salford became the first side from outside the Super League into the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup mustering the dreadful conditions at New Craven Park better than their hosts.
A howling gale and driving rain put paid to any prospect of fluent rugby, for Salford's hard work in defence earns them a possible draw against a big club and a return for the spotlight they left when they were relegated from the elite last year.
Rovers had the wind and rain at their backs in the first half, but could make little use of it. If anything their main kicker, Craig Murdock, struggled to take enough weight off the ball to keep it in play. They did take an early lead, however, when Malcolm Alker was penalised for a high tackle and Lynton Stott put over a simple penalty.
After that, they only created one chance worthy of the name, when Murdock kicked for the corner and Danny Arnold had to react quickly to get their first and hack it clear.
Battling into the elements, Salford's best chances came from a driving run by Simon Baldwin, halted by Craig Poucher's excellent tackle and from Alker's break, brought back for a forward pass.
Two minutes from half-time, they put together the best move of the match to take a lead they were never to lose. Cliff Beverley began it by running at the defence, Baldwin carrying it on and Alan Hunte, who had been guilty of some casual handling, this time made no mistake. Gavin Clinch added the goal and Salford's lead looked worth more than four points.
Rovers dominated the start of the second half. Their 15 minutes of constant pressure, stretched by Salford's inability to carry the ball out of their 20, seemed certain to bring points, but the closest they got was when Jamie Bovill was held up over the line.
Having soaked up all that, Salford broke away with a quickly taken 20-metre tap and when Neil Baynes was held down in the tackle, Nick Pinkney went to the sin-binand Clinch kicked a valuable extra two points.
Six minutes from time, the Reds made absolutely sure when Stuart Littler hacked through Clinch's kick for an opportunist try.
Hull Kingston Rovers: Poucher; Pinkney, Stott, Farrell, Blanchard; Parker, Murdock; Wilson, Pickering, Bovill, Sulivan, Aston, Smith. Substitutes used: Walker, Cochran, Andrews, Fletcher.
Salford: Flowers; Platt, Littler, Hunte, Arnold; Beverley, Clinch; Baynes, Alker, Coley, Baldwin, Lowe, Charles. Substitutes used: D Highton, P Highton, Haggerty, Gorski.
Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury).
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