Reds down Airlie Birds
Richard Myler scored a dramatic late try as Salford sent Hull crashing out of the Carnegie Challenge Cup at the fourth round stage.
Last Updated: 06/04/09 5:21pm
Richard Myler scored a dramatic late try as Salford sent Hull crashing out of the Carnegie Challenge Cup at the fourth round stage.
Victory was no more than the Super League strugglers deserved but their chance looked to have gone as Hull fought back from 16-6 down to lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Salford, with just one previous win to their name this season, had hit back from an early Kirk Yeaman try with a Stuart Littler touchdown and 12 points from John Wilshere.
The Black and Whites restored their lead as Yeaman claimed his second and Tom Briscoe raced in but 18-year-old scrum-half Myler had the dramatic final word with two minutes remaining.
Hull looked to have a comfortable afternoon in store as they opened the scoring with less than four minutes on the clock.
Yeaman was on hand to finish a bright move after Willie Manu put Craig Hall through a gap and Danny Tickle added the extras.
But Hull did not build on their early dominance and the outstanding Jeremy Smith took advantage of a Richard Horne slip to put in a well-weighted kick for Littler to score.
Three goals from full-back Wilshere then put Salford ahead but the Reds could have had more had winger Dean McGilvray not stepped into touch trying to take a long Smith pass.
One of Wilshere's penalties also came after another attack that might have yielded more.
Robbie Paul had caught the Hull defence napping before a fine tackle by Chris Thorman on Jordan Turner slowed Salford down. The Reds looked to continue the charge but settled for two points after Hull were penalised for offside.
Hull went close to pulling one back when Sam Moa was stopped just short seconds before the half-time hooter and Graeme Horne was put clear by Mark Calderwood after the restart but knocked on.
They were chances Hull were to rue missing as Smith led Salford forward again and put Wilshere over to extend the visitors' lead with an excellent piece of improvisation.
Recovered
Smith had misdirected his kick but recovered by chasing it himself to catch and fling a pass out wide for Wilshere to dive over.
Wilshere missed the conversion and a penalty soon after but made no mistake with another chance after Calderwood was sin-binned for interference.
Myler's drop-goal attempt missed as he looked to extend the lead and Hull bit back as Richard Horne set up Yeaman's second try.
Tickle converted to cut the deficit to four points and give Hull renewed belief.
The hosts sensed their opportunity and pressed forward.
They looked to have made the crucial breakthrough as Salford were stretched at a scrum and a superb long pass from Hall sent Briscoe over to level the scores.
Tickle's goal inched Hull ahead but the game had one final twist as Salford roused themselves once more as Malcolm Alker and Littler created the opening for Myler.
Hull appealed in vain about a forward pass but Wilshere's fifth goal wrapped up a deserved victory for the Reds.
