Hull KR maintained their timely run of form as they held off brave Salford to clinch a fourth straight win.

An entertaining first half was dominated by solid defence from both sides before Clint Newton broke the deadlock with a 36th-minute try.

Salford drew level after Adam Sidlow's 48th-minute try but Michael Dobson's 55th-minute penalty edged Rovers back in front before Shaun Briscoe crossed late on.

Ratchford claimed a consolation at the death but that could not halt Rovers' charge into the Super League play-offs.

Salford star Richie Myler was named in their 19-man squad having been rested the last two games amid speculation over an end-of-season move to Warrington.

The England scrum-half missed out on the final 17, though, as Shaun McRae kept faith with a winning side - but for suspended prop Stapleton coming back for young Jason Walton.

Stefan Ratchford continued at scrum-half and put pressure on immediately, kicking a 40-20 before Stapleton's offload went to ground.

Rovers replied with Mark Henry having to shepherd out a Michael Dobson kick, while Dean McGilvray made a meal of another Dobson kick to concede a goal-line drop-out.

Salford got back on the front foot and forced two drop-outs in quick succession, each from Liam Colbon fielding Ratchford kicks.

Salford's Stuart Littler was stopped short after a break down the right, while an excellent tackle by Shaun Briscoe kept out Henry on the opposite flank.

Littler then hacked on for fully 80 metres after blocking a Paul Cooke kick, only for Peter Fox to track back, while Rovers scrambled superbly to keep out Salford after Phil Leuluai's offload to Jeremy Smith.

Colbon tapped out for another drop-out but a Salford penalty for offside on halfway allowed Rovers to open the scoring, Newton making an inside run to score under the posts from Dobson's pass.

Dobson added the extras to give Rovers a 6-0 half-time lead, but Salford soon levelled after the interval.

Fox had to palm out Karl Fitzpatrick's kick for a scrum before Sidlow took Robbie Paul's pass to power over from close range.

John Wilshere made the kick but Rovers regained the lead through Dobson's 15-metre penalty after Stapleton was sin-binned for a late charge on the Australian scrum-half.

Ben Cockayne was also yellow-carded for charging the kicker, although Cooke's 40-20 relieved the pressure.

Dobson's grubber forced a repeat set from Fitzpatrick before the Salford full-back did well to halt Colbon's charge to the line.

The pressure told as Briscoe sealed the win by finishing off from Dobson's pass before Ratchford touched down from Jeremy Smith's kick.