A gutsy Hull FC side exited the Betfred Challenge Cup at the semi-final stage after a 33-18 defeat to St Helens.
The Black & Whites certainly weren’t lacking in spirit and they almost pulled off a remarkable comeback in the final third of the game after trailing 20-2 on the hour mark, with tries coming from Regan Grace, Theo Fages and Jack Welsby.
Mahe Fonua, Danny Houghton and Cameron Scott scored three unanswered tries as FC came prowling on the comeback trail.
But a Grace interception with less than ten minutes remaining took the cup tie beyond Brett Hodgson’s side. Lachlan Coote then sealed the win with a try in the dying embers.
Team News
Hodgson welcomed Andre Savelio back into the matchday squad, with the forward missing last week’s tie through a hamstring issue.
Savelio started in the second-row, with Jordan Lane shifting to loose forward to replace the injured Joe Cator (calf).
Saints were missing Mark Percival and Agnatius Paasi from the side that defeated FC last week.
But international outside backs Tommy Makinson and Grace made timely returns from the sidelines.
Youngster Dan Norman made his St Helens debut from the interchange bench.
The Match
After an attritional start to the match in the opening ten minutes, it was Hull who registered the first points of the afternoon when Marc Sneyd slotted over a penalty from 30 metres out.
Back-to-back penalties not long after the restart cost Hull a try, though. Saints caught the Black & Whites napping down the shortside and a cutout ball to Grace saw the Welsh international dive in at the corner. Coote converted.
St Helens extended their lead by another two points shortly afterwards, with Houghton penalised for a late tackle.
A freak incident saw Saints score their second try of the match. Josh Griffin dropped the ball after suffering a serious injury, with Fages picking up the loose pieces and scoring a simple try. Coote added the extras.
Coote’s kicking duties continued when he opted to go for goal when Hull were penalised for an offside offence with just under half an hour played, but the Australian missed, keeping the scores at 14-2.
HALF-TIME: Hull 2-14 Saints
Welsby continued his rich vein of try scoring form by putting Saints 18-2 ahead ten minutes into the second half, managing to squeeze between Carlos Tuimavave and Fonua and dot the ball down in the left corner. Coote’s conversion made it 20-2.
The Black & Whites kept the cup tie alive when Marc Sneyd, Jake Connor and Josh Reynolds linked up. The ball then went through the hands of Tuimavave, who found Fonua, and the winger powered his way over the try line in the corner. Sneyd nailed the touchline conversion.
With 15 minutes remaining, Fages knocked over a drop-goal from 25 metres out to put Saints three scores ahead.
Hull responded immediately to put the cat amongst the pigeons. A penalty against Saints set FC up nicely, and a gloriously executed shortside play saw Houghton scamper over from eight metres out. Sneyd’s conversion made it 21-14.
Following some ad-lib play from the Airlie Birds and a well executed shift play, Scott pinned the ears back from close range and stretched every sinew in his body to plant the ball down in the left corner. Sneyd’s conversion drifted just wide.
As the Black & Whites were in the ascendency, a Connor pass was intercepted by Grace. Despite stumbling, the winger regained his composure and sprinted 80 metres to break Hull hearts. Coote’s conversion made it 27-18.
Coote rubber stamped the win for Saints after Kevin Naiqama leapt highest to pat down a high kick and the fullback was backing up to pick up the loose ball and score underneath the sticks. He converted his own try.
FULL-TIME: Hull 18-33 Saints
Squads & Scorers
Hull: Connor, Swift, Griffin, Tuimavave, Fonua, Reynolds, Sneyd, Satae, Houghton, Sao, Savelio, Ma’u, Lane
Hull Interchanges: Bowden, Brown, Fash, Scott
Hull Tries: Fonua, Houghton
Hull Goals: Sneyd (3/3)
Saints: Coote, Makinson, Naiqama, Welsby, Grace, Lomax, Fages, Walmsley, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Thompson, Mata’utia, Knowles
Saints Interchanges: Amor, Batchelor, Dodd, Norman
Saints Tries: Grace (2), Fages, Welsby, Coote
Saints Goals: Coote (6/7), Fages (DG)
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