There had been speculation all week as to whether the game
between Hull FC and the Salford Red Devils would take place to conclude round
twenty-one, fuelled by the departures of Chris Hankinson and club captain, Ryan
Brierley, but after some late benevolence from other clubs, the Red Devils
coaching staff were able to put in a team sheet.

Salford gave debuts to seven loan players including; Brad
Dwyer (Leigh), Harvey Makin and Taylor Kerr (both Wigan), Kieran Nolan and Jake
Davies (both St Helens) and Riley Lumb and Ben Littlewood (both Leeds).

Unsurprisingly the home side were given a sixty-point handicap
on the coupon with the margin of victory the only subject of discussion, the
win to take the Black & Whites back into the top six was not under debate.

One hundred seconds had elapsed when Hull first broke
through the Salford defence with their first set of six, Lewis Martin taking a
delayed miss-out pass to twist in the tackle and slam the ball down in the
corner. Will Pryce couldn’t hit the target with the conversion, but it was the
start that had been expected pre-match.

The second came on eight, Martin this time the try maker as
he broke the line and then found Harvey Barron in support to take the pass
forty metres from the line and dive over under the sticks. Zak Hardaker took over
the kicking duties and slotted the ball home for 10-0.

Brilliant Hull defence somehow prevented Justin Sangare from
getting the ball on the ground on thirteen, Hull regaining possession on the
last Salford tackle.

Hull worked the ball down the other end when Jed Cartwright
Jumped above the Salford defenders to take a high kick and walk in from five
metres out. Hardaker was unable to ad the conversion from wide.

A couple of minutes later Barron got his second with a try
that started with an Amir Bourouh break from his won half, the winger taking a
Tom Briscoe pass to dive in at the corner. Hardaker added a touchline conversion
for 20-0 after nineteen minutes.

On twenty, Martin completed his double, the Salford heads
down as Hull shredded their defensive line. Hardaker added another to his total
for 26-0, Hull ahead of a point a minute.

On twenty-three it was Cartwright joining the ‘brace club’
supporting a break and taking the pass forty out to canter in and score under
the sticks. Hardaker kicked from under the shadow of the sticks for 32-0.

It was try after try, almost an unopposed training session.
On twenty-five Davy Litten supported a Martin break to take the inside pass to
go over unopposed from thirty metres out. Hardaker added his fifth goal of the
game for 38-0 on twenty-seven minutes.

Martin completed his first half hat-trick on twenty-eight,
the last man as Hull worked the ball down the line, the winger stooping to
ground in the left corner. Hardaker converted in off the far post, it was
already embarrassing.

Hull were in total control, Salford not getting any time
with the ball.

On thirty-six Cade Cust dropped the shoulder and stepped
through the Salford line for his first of the game, Hardaker added the
conversion to bring up the fifty points in a scintillating first half for the
Airlie Birds.

Back-to-back penalties inside the Red Devils twenty enabled
Hull to get their tenth try of the game on forty-three. On the last tackle the ball
was flung to Martin to get his fourth of the afternoon. Hardaker added another
touchline conversion.

Crowd favourite Herman Ese’ese got in on the act on forty-nine
when he took a short pass twenty out and ran the angle through the line to
score. Hardaker added his ninth goal of the afternoon.

On fifty-three Bourouh shrugged off a tackle and fell over
the line to become the seventh Hull try scorer of the afternoon. Hardaker added
the extras from bang in front for 68-0, the scoreboard ticking over nicely or the
home side.

Three minutes later a Cust kick over the top was collected
by Litten to go in from ten metres for his second of the afternoon. Hardaker added
an eleventh goal of the afternoon, one off the Hull record in a game.

Another Hardaker break, and a selfless pass outside to Tom
Briscoe, allowed the Hull man in for his first try of the game and the try that
lifts him into the all-time top ten scorers in Super League. Hardaker added a
twelfth goal to equal the Hull record for goals in a game and bring up the
eighty for his side with fourteen minutes remaining.

Some delight for Salford in the seventy-seventh minute as
Brad Dwyer span out of the tackle to ground under the uprights as he went in
from five metres. Riley Lumb added the conversion from in front of the sticks
for a final score of 80-6.

Hull FC moved into the top six with absolute ease as they
humiliated the Salford Red Devils with a record-breaking win. FC were
professional, played what was in front of them, and did a complete demolition
job. Where to now for Salford? Can it get any worse for them, or is this
absolute rock bottom?

Hull FC: Pryce (G 0/1), Barron (2T), Briscoe (T), Litten (2T),
Martin (4T), Hardaker (G 12/13), Cust (T), Ese’ese (T), Bourouh (T), Watts,
Cartwright (2T), Chamberlain, Asiata. Subs: Aydin, Ashworth, Eseh, Eseh. 18^th
Man: Laidlaw.

Salford Red Devils: Murphy, Lumb, Whitehead, Warren, Hill,
Connell, Nolan, Sangare, Yates, Lewis, Littlewood, Chan, Wilson. Subs: Glover,
Dwyer (T), Makin, Kerr. 18^th Man: Davies. 

Half-Time: 50-0.

Full-Time: 80-6.

Score Progression: 4-0, 8-0, 10-0, 14-0, 18-0, 20-0, 24-0, 26-0,
30-0, 32-0, 36-0, 38-0, 42-0, 44-0, 48-0, 50-0 : HT: 54-0, 56-0, 60-0, 62-0,
66-0, 68-0, 72-0, 74-0, 78-0, 80-0, 80-4, 80-6 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Hull.

Referee: Liam Rush.