Australian full-back Tony Duggan scored his 100th try in English rugby league but it was not enough to prevent Super League new boys Celtic Crusaders going down to a second successive defeat.

The 30-year-old Duggan, who scored the Crusaders' first-ever try in their inaugural game three years ago, touched down twice in a six-minute spell early in the second half to reach the landmark on his 85th appearance.

The tries briefly brought the Welsh side back into the game but in the end they were made to pay for another sluggish start in which they conceded three tries in the first 11 minutes.

The Crusaders trailed 22-0 at half-time in their opening game at Leeds before finding their form and a similar start against the Reds killed the game off as a contest.

Salford, who had the disadvantage of starting the season a week later than their fellow newcomers, had six men on debut, including new captain Rob Parker, but they quickly found a rhythm, with front rowers Ray Cashmere and Craig Stapleton setting a superb example.

Axed captain Malcolm Alker was the architect of the game's first try on five minutes, putting full-back Karl Fitzpatrick into a gap for the supporting Stapleton to touch down.

The Crusaders barely had time to recover when teenage half-back Richard Myler added a second try straight from a scrum 30 metres out and it got even worse for the Welsh side when Alker took a return pass from Willie Talau and got winger Mark Henry over for a third try.

John Wilshere kicked all three conversions, including one from the touchline, and added a penalty midway through the first half to put his side into a 20-0 lead.

It looked like being a Valentine's Day massacre but loose forward Peter Lupton pulled a try back on 25 minutes, touching the ball down after Myler unluckily deflected Jace van Dijk's grubber kick into his path.

The Crusaders, who gave a debut to Papua New Guinea World Cup forward Jason Chan, continued their improvement in the second half, despite losing skipper Van Dijk with concussion.

Second rower Darren Mapp went close before Hannay released his winger Luke Dyer and Duggan was in support to register his 99th try.

And it took the little Australian just six more minutes to bring up his century after taking Damien Quinn's pass and skipping out of Wilshere's attempted tackle.

Hannay converted both of Duggan's tries to cut the gap to just four points as the game went into the final quarter but the 4,026 crowd were able to breathe more easily when Salford hit back to score their fourth try.

Scrum-half Jeremy Smith released substitute Ian Sibbit and his pace took him to the corner, too far out for Wilshere to add the goal.

Wilshere then made amends by landing two penalties to complete the scoring and ensure a winning start for Shaun McRae's men on their return to Super League.