St Helens Under 19s managed to stave off a spirited Hull FC Academy fightback on Saturday afternoon, eventually winning 30-28 at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Ultimately, Saints were always one step ahead of the visitors, who found themselves chasing the game once Rio Corkill opened the scoring inside ten minutes.
Saints established an 18-0 lead after the first quarter of the game, but a Davy Litten brace got Hull back in the game.
A second Corkill try gave Saints a cushion heading into the break, but second half tries from Leon Stewart, Jacob Hookem and Joel Speed almost helped Hull complete a brave comeback.
The Match
Corkill drew first blood when he climbed highest to claim Ellis Archer’s well measured kick to the corner.
A quick double hit Hull for six, though. Keane Gilford cut inside from the left edge to cross the whitewash before Daniel Moss through a dummy and sliced through the gap he created for himself.
But Hull weren’t there to make up the numbers. Litten demonstrated neat footwork to evade two Saints defenders before beating the fullback for pace.
Shortly afterwards, Litten had his second of the game thanks to a smart couple of offloads from Hookem and Stewart.
Just as it seemed the Black & Whites were in the ascendency, Corkill darted over from dummy half to deliver a big blow on the stroke of half-time.
HALF-TIME: Saints 24-12 Hull
Hull were breathing down Saints’ necks again early in the second half and their persistence paid off when Jude Ferreira’s break was met by some enthusiastic inside push from Stewart, who had room to race away and score under the posts.
Yet the Black & Whites found themselves chasing a two-score lead again on the hour mark when George Delaney hit a strong line to power his way over the try line.
The clock was proving to be Hull’s enemy at this stage, but Hookem’s show and go to score gave the Black & Whites a sterling opportunity to continue on their comeback trail with fifteen minutes to go.
As Saints were 30-24 in front, discipline cost the hosts some vital territory and Hull were in no mood to show any mercy. Hookem’s expert bullet pass to Joel Speed saw the outside back dive over in the corner. Hookem had the chance to bring the scores level with his touchline conversion, but he watched on despairingly as his attempt sailed wide of the mark.
With just under ten minutes to go, Hull threw caution to the wind in search of a decisive try, which almost came in the final play of the game when a grubber kick into the St Helens in goal area was scrambled away desperately by the home side.
FULL-TIME: Saints 30-28 Hull
Squads & Scorers
Hull: Litten, Wacokecoke, Ferreira, Speed, Martin, Rutland, Hookem, Wallis, Morley, Gibson, Stewart, Severs, Staveley
Hull Interchanges: Chatham, Jackson, Jebson, Mafi, Masike, Trulson, Yeaman
Hull Tries: Litten (2), Stewart, Hookem, Speed
Hull Goals: Hookem (4/5)
Saints: Lane, Gilford, Corkill, Haynes, Martyn, Moss, Archer, Woods, Pemberton, Delaney, Duffy, Sumner, Brooks
Saints Interchanges: Blackwood, Keppel, Peposhi, Pyke, O’Donnell, Rodgers, Whittle
Saints Tries: Corkill (2), Gilford, Moss, Delaney
Saints Goals: Martyn (5/5)
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