Salford RLFC eased to an 86-0 victory against North Wales Crusaders in Colwyn Bay.
Four tries from Toby Hughes sealed a devastating attacking display as he became the first Salford player to score four tries in a match since Ken Sio in 2022.
Joe Hartley, Cameron Bate, Callum Green, Danny Lynch and Fin Yates all scored two tries each, with Brad Dwyer scoring one, which advances Salford RLFC to 13th in the championship.
For North Wales Crusaders, off-field difficulties ensure they remain bottom of the Championship with a negative six points total.
Salford RLFC asserted their physical dominance early in the match with big carries from the forward pack forcing the Crusaders defence to retreat, which Brad Dwyer took advantage of to score the opening try of the match within six minutes.
Salford scored again when Brad Dwyer, who extended his contact with the club until the end of the season, became provider to Toby Hughes who strolled over the try-line untouched in the 11th minute.
In the 20th minute, Salford scored their third try when winger Keane Gilford managed to fight off defensive pressure and stay in play before finding Joe Hartley who made it 14-0.
The tries kept on coming for Salford, who were flexing their muscles in the first half, when Toby Hughes made a line break before stepping inside the full-back to score under the posts and claim his second of the game.
Despite the Crusaders going close to scoring on a couple of occasions, their best chances of the match were unable to be converted into points.
It was one-way traffic for the remainder of the first half with tries from Lewis Pilling, Cameron Bate, Callum Green and Toby Hughes giving Salford a 42-0 lead at half-time.
Dave Hewitt’s side scored again only two minutes into the second half after a quick break on the left side, which ended with Joe Hartley beating two defenders with a dummy pass before scoring his second try of the match.
It was a really disciplined performance from the reds, with the forward pack laying the platform for both edges to thrive with quick attacking sequences.
Callum Green finished off a great attack on the right wing to make it 54-0 to Salford just moments later.
Despite the victory being out of sight and Salford’s defensive discipline, the Crusaders gave a great account of themselves and kept creating chances until the end.
Player of the match Toby Hughes scored a penalty try for his fourth of the afternoon after another powerful running display with the ball.
Towards the end of the game fatigue was setting in and was evident when Harry Coleman was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Lewis Pilling.
An off-the-ball incident made for a tense last 20 minutes, with Salford’s Joe Hartley and the Crusaders’ Matt Lightfoot being sent to the sin-bin leaving both teams playing with 12 players in the second half.
The second half was topped off with Welshman Fin Yates scoring two tries on home soil, whilst Danny Lynch also scored two tries.
Referee Aaryn Golding Belafonte further deepened North Wales’s woes when he gave Will Furley a red card for a dangerous tackle.
Kieran Dixon, who signed permanently with the club two weeks ago, scored 13 of 16 goal kicks to seal a historic 86-0 victory for Salford in front of 908 people at Eirias Stadium.
