Super League: Salford beat London Broncos 58-26 in 10-try canter
Last Updated: 07/09/14 5:16pm
Josh Griffin notched a hat-trick of tries as Salford ended a dismal week with a 58-26 victory over First Utility Super League basement boys London Broncos.
Griffin also kicked nine goals for a tally of 30 points, with Greg Johnson also crossing three times in the 10-try canter for the hosts, who led 52-8 after an hour before conceding three converted tries to lose some of the gloss from their win.
Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash cancelled the players end-of-season party following last Sunday's 42-6 defeat at Wakefield, a result which dashed their faint top-eight hopes.
Koukash then granted Gareth Hock's transfer request in midweek with the former Wigan and England forward still suspended for making contact with a referee.
Salford coach Iestyn Harris gave the majority of his players the chance to atone for their dismal performance at Wakefield, although Mason Caton-Brown was missing against his old club. Griffin returned to the side and Jason Walton replaced Andrew Dixon on the bench.
Steve Rapira was still on compassionate leave with London handing teenager Toby Everett his Super League debut off the bench.
The Broncos, without an away victory for almost 12 months, had won only one league and cup match all season - against Leeds last month - and never looked like improving on that nightmare run.
London conceded their first try after only seven minutes with Tommy Lee supporting Theo Fages' break to notch only his second try of the season with Griffin booting the conversion.
Fages had a touchdown disallowed for a forward pass from Rangi Chase, who was already starting to weave his magic.
But Salford suffered a setback with a nasty collision between Lee and Matty Ashurst - the latter was forced to quit with a nasty gash to his head.
London tried to play enterprising rugby and were unlucky not to cross after a jinking run from Josh Drinkwater but his final pass went astray.
Proved costly
It proved costly with the Red Devils replying immediately. Chase sent Jordan Walne surging over to make it 12-0 with a perfectly timed pass.
The Broncos were rewarded for their early endeavour with Salford caught napping from a blind side move with Drinkwater's long ball allowing Jordan Atkins to burrow over in the corner.
But London's cause was not helped when they had Nesiasi Mataitonga carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury.
Their plight grew worse with Griffin gathering Chase's teasing kick to touch down and convert his own try to make it 18-4.
London's defence was powerless to stop Johnson blasting his way over in the corner with Sau providing the final pass. Griffin added the difficult conversion.
Logan Tomkins added a fifth try just before the break from a pass by Griffin, who maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot to put Salford into a commanding 30-4 interval lead.
Substitute Iliess Macani did well to avoid Niall Evalds' crunching tackle to squeeze in at the corner early in the second half, but the Reds winger responded with a surging break to allow Jason Walton to cross from another Chase pass to extend the lead to 36-8.
Griffin then added his second try after a slick move involving Harrison Hansen and Chase.
Johnson notched his second touchdown with Griffin adding another difficult conversion to extend the lead to 48-8.
Griffin completed his treble after finishing off the best move of the match as London wilted, but the centre was narrowly off target with the conversion for his first miss of the afternoon.
London did manage a Matt Cook try on the hour before Drinkwater broke clear for an impressive solo try.
Harris will be unhappy at Salford taking their foot off the gas for Nick Slyney to stroll over as the Reds conceded three tries in nine minutes.
But Johnson would complete his hat-trick in the last minute.