Youngster, Sam Hill scored his first Betfred Super League try, but it was ultimately in vain, with St Helens winning comfortably at the Salford Community Stadium.
Paul Rowley was able to welcome Shane Wright and Chris Hill back into his starting thirteen, with youngster, Sam Hill retaining his spot on the wing after an impressive debut.
An error-stricken opening ten minutes allowed Saints to race into a comfortable lead. Right from the visitors’ first set, a pat-down by Hill added another six tackles onto the count, with Curtis Sironen the man to spot a gap and stroll over.
Just minutes later, a two strips and a high tackle saw the pressure pilled back on our line, with Kyle Feldt marking his return from injury by dotting down in the corner.
It threatened to turn ugly for the Reds after 12 minutes when Alex Walmsley palmed off his man to slide over, off the back of another Salford penalty.
However, to the team’s credit, they recomposed and actually enjoyed a period of sustained pressure on the Saints line. Matty Foster went the closest when he raced clear 30 metres out, but the referee quickly pulled the play back for obstruction.
From the resulting set, the visitors made good territory and set up for a right edge play that saw Feldt as the spare man to score his second.
Just before the break, Hill broke down the right for Salford and found the supporting Nathan Connell, but the fullback was denied by a scrambling Tristan Sailor.
A slow start to the second period came to life when a lovely line by Harvey Wilson split open the Saints defensive line. He had Brierley in support, but the pair weren’t quite on the same wavelength and the move quickly broke down.
Going down the other end, Sailor managed to stab a grubber off balance towards Harry Robertson, who slammed down to extend Saints’ advantage.
Minutes later, the same provider found Feldt with a looping pass, allowing the winger to stroll into the corner for his hat-trick.
Tensions were high after a scuffle between Tiaki Chan, Alex Walmsley and Matty Foster, and it was the Saints who capitalised from the penalty when Robertson scooted from dummy-half to score.
It wasn’t long until the visitors were over again; this time it was Owen Dagnall the final piece of some neat interplay on the left edge.
Feldt scored his fourth in similar fashion to his third, taking advantage of a looped pass out wide cross in the corner.
Then, with the game seemingly limping towards its conclusion, a moment of magic from young Sam Hill brought the entire stadium to its feet.
Sailor conceded a drop-out and the kick went the way of the winger, who picked the ball up and produced a genius chip and chase to get us back within range.
A few plays later, Hill was the spare man to dot down in the corner for his first senior try – a touching moment for the Salford Roosters product.
MATCH FACTS:
Salford XIII: Nathan Connell, Jonny Vaughan, Chris Hankinson, Toby Warren, Sam Hill, Esan Marsters, Ryan Brierley (C), Jack Ormondroyd, Kai Morgan, Chris Hill, Matty Foster, Shane Wright, Joe Shorrocks.
Interchanges: Justin Sangare, Harvey Wilson, Charlie Glover, Tiaki Chan.
Tries: Sam Hill.
Conversions: Chris Hankinson (0/1).
St Helens XIII: Tristan Sailor, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Deon Cross, Owen Dagnall, Jonny Lomax, George Whitby, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Matt Whitley, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Joe Batchelor, Moses Mbye, George Delaney, Noah Stephens.
Tries: Curtis Sironen, Kyle Feldt (4), Alex Walmsley, Harry Robertson (2), Owen Dagnall.
Conversions: George Whitby (2/4), Kyle Feldt (3/5)
HT: 0-20
FT: 4-46
