It was a ten-point victory for the Salford Red Devils when the two sides met at the Magic Weekend in Newcastle a fortnight ago, but Hull KR would be hoping to put that defeat behind them and make progress into the semi-finals of the 2023 Betfred Challenge Cup as the two sides met at Craven Park in the opening game of an action packed weekend of quarter finals games.

For most people it was too close to call, the bookies giving the visitors a slight edge and awarding Hull KR a two-point start on the handicap coupon.

Hull KR came into the game with enforced changes including the absence of injured Lachlan Coote who was replaced by debutant Tanguy Zenon, but Salford named the same eighteen that emerged victorious from the game in Newcastle.

An end-to-end opening demonstrated than neither side would die wondering and set the scene for a belting eighty minutes of rugby league.

A man with a massive Challenge Cup pedigree opened the scoring for the home side with Ryan Hall taking the Mikey Lewis pass in space, ten from the Salford line, and reversing over the line under the tackle of two Red Devils men to ground in the corner. Rowan Milnes added the conversion from wide for a 6-0 lead.

With twenty-one minutes on the clock an impressive Tanguy Zenon scored a debut try after a nice one-two with Tom Opacic down the centre of the field as they stretched the Salford defence. Milnes popped the conversion between the uprights for 12-0, Salford looking a clear second best as Rovers got on a roll.

Salford’s frustration was manifesting itself through the gifting of silly penalties to their opposition, the Robins playing them perfectly and amplifying their angst.

A swinging arm from Elliot Minchella on Jack Ormondroyd saw the KR man sin-binned for ten minutes but the Red Devils couldn’t make their hosts pay from the resulting penalty.

On thirty-eight a quick tap penalty and sleepy Salford defence allowed Mikey Lewis to break from halfway and almost score before being hauled down. A fast pay-the-ball saw Kane Linnett take the pass and dive over from five metres out. Milnes added the conversion, in off the far post, for an 18-0 half time lead. Paul Rowley’s Red Devils in disarray and the Robins with one foot in the semi-finals.

Three minutes after the restart, Tim Lafai was on hand to take a Joe Burges offload to go down the left wing for a ten metre try to register the Red Devils first points of the game. Marc Sneyd was wide with the conversion attempt, Salford still a long way behind.

Tempers boiled over again on fifty-three after a high tackle from Lewis, referee Thaler reading the riot act to both sides.

Amir Bourouh was held up over the line on fifty-four for Salford and despite tackles in the bank the Red Devils couldn´t get over.

On sixty-one Rovers sealed the win when Shaun Kenny-Dowall collected a Milnes short grubber, slip out of the attempted tackle, and get the ball on the ground behind the sticks. Milnes added a simple conversion, KR with a twenty-point lead, Salford with eighteen minutes to regain some pride.

The fifth Robins try came from another devastating Milnes kick, this one grounded by a diving Dean Hadley as Burgess fumbled the ball in goal allowing the KR man in. Milnes hit the post, the home side 28-4 ahead.

In the dying seconds Burgess collected a Sneyd chip over the top to score in the corner. Sneyd converted from the touchline for a final score of 28-10, Salford well beaten.

Hull KR were devastatingly good and brought their poor run of form crashing to a spectacular end, orchestrated by a top drawer performance from Rowan Milnes. Salford were incredibly disappointing, they went behind, allowed the Robins to get under their skin, and couldn't get a foothold in the game. One Hull side into the semi-finals with the other to take on St Helens in the afternoon's other game. The loud home crowd delighted with their sides comprehensive win.

Hull KR: Zenon (T), Senior, Kenny-Dowall (T), Opacic, Hall R (T), Lewis, Milnes (4G), King, Litten, Luckley, Hadley (T), Linnett (T), Minchella (SB on 33). Subs: Parcell, Storton, Kennedy, Aydin. 18th Man: Johnson.

Salford Red Devils: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai (T), Burgess (T), Croft, Sneyd (G), Dupree, Atkin, Vuniyayawa, Watkins, Stone, Partington.  Subs: Bourouh, Ormondroyd, Sidlow, Hellewell. 18th Man: Costello.

Half-Time: 18-0.

Full-Time: 28-10.

Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, (SB), 16-0, 18-0 : HT: 18-4, 22-4, 24-4, 28-4, 28-8, 28-10 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Hull KR.

Referee: Ben Thaler.