Salford RLFC boss Mike Grady said his side “lacked a little bit of effort” in their 78-8 defeat at Doncaster.
Tries from Connor Robinson, Cory Aston and Luis Johnson, as well as a first-half hat-trick from Edene Gebbie, meant that Doncaster went into half-time with an unassailable 44-0 lead.
Doncaster scrum-half Tom Holmes added two quickfire tries after the break before Joe Hartley cut the deficit for Salford.
After Australian hooker Connor Jones added another for Doncaster, Ollie Garmston scored for the second game running on 63 minutes for Salford.
But Salford’s fightback was short-lived as tries from Aston, Gebbie and then Mustapha sealed a convincing 78-8 win for the home side.
After the match, Grady explained that he was disappointed with the way his players applied themselves in a first-half where Doncaster ran riot.
He said: “I was not pleased with the first half at all and the lads knew about that at half-time.
“I just think we lacked a bit of effort, contact wasn’t great, we didn’t stick in the contact, so there were a lot of things we needed to fix up at half-time. Just little things like kick-offs, our kick-offs were poor, and they were better second-half.
On a tough day, Grady was delighted with the performance of try-scorer Hartley.
“Joe’s been fantastic for us. On that pitch today, regardless of the result, Joe’s put 110 per cent in week in, week out, so I’m pleased with Joe.
“He’s had a good game again today, and he’ll continue to do that as he’s done all season.”
Asked to give his opinion on Garmston’s try, which came from a probing kick from Matthew Ross, he said: “The kick-offs in the first half were poor, we spoke about it and then Matty Ross comes out and kicks like that.
“That’s what we needed, we needed for it to be difficult for them, to be awkward for them. That (kick) was and we got the try off the back of it.
Forward Shaun Costello was given his first Salford RLFC start after signing from North Wales Crusaders in the lead-up to the game.
Grady was impressed by Costello’s debut and said he brings vital experience to the squad:
“He has been really good, he’s had a good game today in difficult circumstances.
“I know I’ll probably say this person had a good game, that person, but Sean’s had a really good dig, and it’s good to get someone with a bit of experience inside.”
Grady also praised the travelling Salford fans who turned out in numbers to watch their side in South Yorkshire.
He called on them to “stick with us” after the heavy defeat.
“They should just stick with us, and the first thing I went is straight over to see them after the final whistle.
“Some of that (match) wasn’t acceptable, but some was okay. They’re with us week in, week out, and still singing at the end.
“Every week, they’re singing after the final whistle, so stick with us, we’ll get there and we’ll keep up the effort for you,” he said.
