Krause in control

London Broncos 48 Salford 12

Sean Edwards' first hat-trick for London and the 300th try of his glittering career consigned a road weary Salford to their second defeat in a week after a previously unbeaten start in Super League, writes Dave Hadfield.

Unlike their loss at St Helens on Tuesday, Salford were decisively outplayed at The Stoop last night, with Edwards' opportunism just one of the problems they could not solve.

The disruption of the road network in the north of England condemned Salford to an eight-hour coach journey to London and they gave the impression in the early stages of not having arrived at all. Three times in the first 18 minutes their paper-thin defence was breached by tries, converted by Terry Matterson.

Josh White began the flurry of scoring with a jinking run that induced the Salford line to open up in front of him. Ten minutes later, Shaun Edwards scored the sort of try he has been grabbing all his career, backing up David Krause's break to cut through from 50 yards out.

Matterson's pass to Tony Martin produced the third London try and they would have been more firmly in control had Peter Gill's touchdown, after deft work by Edwards and Matterson, not been disallowed.

Perhaps inspired by that escape, Salford at last began to buckle down to the job. Sustained pressure led to Scott Naylor going over for a try which Ian Watson improved. Before half-time, Naylor and Craig Randall opened the way for Peter Edwards and Salford ended the half back in contention.

London were clearly shaken after their effortless start, but a repeat of one of their first-half tries put them back on track. Krause, their outstanding player, split the Salford defence and Edwards again went half the length of the field to score.

Matterson landed the goal and added another when Watson held down Matt Dunford. Salford knew that they were definitely going home empty handed when Edwards scored his third try on the hour, taking the pass from Adrian Spencer to go under the sticks.

Salford were to all intents back on the bus with Edwards' kick placed neatly for Matterson to claim the Broncos' sixth try. Clever handling from Gill saw Spencer go in for a try of his own before White wriggled over for his second, three minutes from time.

London Broncos: Mardon; Smith, Krause, Tollett, Martin; Edwards, White; Salter, Spencer, Dunford, Bawden, Gill, Matterson. Substitutes used: Barwick, Rosolen, Duncan, Seaby.

Salford: Broadbent; Sini, Naylor, McAvoy, Rogers; Martin, Watson; Southern, Edwards, Eccles, Faimalo, Savelio, Hulme. Substitutes used: Forver, Coussons, Blease, Randall.

Referee: D Campbell (Widnes).