Interim coach Alan Hunte was delighted with his Salford City Reds youngsters after signing off his managerial reign with a crushing Challenge Cup defeat of Gloucestershire All Golds.
The Reds ran in 15 tries, including a Jon Ford hat-trick, and Marc Sneyd added 22 points with the boot to ease into the fifth round.
And Hunte – who now hands over to new coach Brian Noble – believes the future looks bright for the Red Devils.
“As a coach with the scoreline progressing along as it was, you can relax a little bit,” he told the club website.
“I thought the actual performances were good and that was pleasing, you wouldn’t have known they were on debut today.
“We want this to be the start of a legacy of good quality homegrown talent turning out in a Salford shirt.”
Despite a bright start, the All Golds had just a solitary converted try to show for their efforts in their first ever match at this stage of the Challenge Cup.
Ford’s treble, two tries each for Ashley Gibson and Will Hope and further scores by Sneyd, Jordan Walne, Niall Evalds, Adam Walne, Jodie Broughton, Jake Emmitt, Vic Mauro and George Tyson eased Salford to victory.
Hunte was quick to praise their spirited opposition however and tipped the University of Gloucestershire side for a bright future.
“The first twenty minutes we struggled, we were a little bit scrappy but credit to the All Golds, they got in our face, made it difficult for us,” he said.
“We knew they were going to tire having never played at that level of intensity, it was always going to be hard for them to keep it up.
“But I’m sure that as the season goes on that team will get better and better and every single individual involved with the club can be proud of what they’re doing.”
Image courtesy of Salford City Reds, via Vimeo, with thanks.
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