A spirited Salford side went down in their opening game of the season at Craven Park.

Matty Smith and Jodie Broughton scored tries for the Reds but they were no match for a powerful East Yorkshire side, tipped to have a big season.

It took Rovers less than three minutes to break open the Reds defence - Paul Cooke, operating at loose forward, put in a shrewd kick which was chased by Peter Fox and Salford's Karl Fitzpatrick, with the Reds fullback bundled into touch as he tried to clear.

From the play which followed Michael Dobson made the initial break before handing on to Cooke, who in turn found Fox and the winger made no mistake in the right corner, with Dobson landing the touchline conversion.

Four minutes later another Dobson kick saw Fox pick up, step inside one man and then beat Fitzpatrick to score. Dobson landed a second superb conversion from the touchline.

But Salford settled themselves and pulled a try back on 20 minutes when Ashley Gibson sent in Smith under the posts with Stefan Ratchford adding the conversion.

On 26 minutes Fox could have completed his hat-trick but he could not take the final pass and the ball went into touch.

Rovers had the best of the possession during the half, with Salford defending manfully. The visitors were restricted to sporadic breakouts which still put Rovers under some pressure.

Three minutes before the break Rovers went further ahead when Dobson found Jake Webster and the stand-off raced home to score, with Dobson adding his third touchline conversion to see the Robins 18-6 ahead at the break.

After the interval Rovers were back on the front foot and on 46 minutes Liam Watts was hauled down a yard short of the visitors' line.

As the hosts swung play across the field, Fox was sent away but referee Richard Silverwood brought the winger back for a forward pass.

Jason Netherton also went close but was held short by some determined Salford defence.

Ben Cockayne was tackled high as he raced through in the 51st minute and from the play which followed the final pass was wayward and too difficult for Cockayne to take cleanly.

But Rovers went further ahead on 54 minutes when a clearance kick hit a Salford defender and shot into the air where it was collected by Rovers and the move ended with Webster sending in Dobson for an unopposed run to touch down. The scrum-half then added the conversion.

There was more woe for Shaun McRae's side when Ben Fisher and Dobson combined to send Clint Newton clear in the 61st minute and then Dobson made it six successful kicks out of six with the conversion.

Salford were not short of heart as they showed in the 64th minute. Rovers were pressing on the visitors' line when Steve Tyrer made a vital interception and found Broughton who raced some 49 metres to complete a length-of-the-field movement to score. Stefan Ratchford added the conversion.