Despite a valiant effort from Hull FC, they were second best throughout against a dominant St Helens side, going down 58-0 at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Saints ran in ten tries, with Waqa Blake bagging a brace as the Black & Whites were kept scoreless.
Team News
Interim head coach Simon Grix took charge of the Black & Whites for the first time at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Grix made five changes from the side that lined up against Huddersfield a fortnight ago, with Danny Houghton, Will Gardiner, Davy Litten, Denive Balmforth and Zach Jebson coming into the team.
The five replace Ligi Sao and Jack Brown, who miss out through suspension, Jayden Okunbor, and duo Tex Hoy and Fa’amanu Brown who have since left the club.
Carlos Tuimavave (hamstring), Jake Trueman (Achilles), Brad Fash (ankle), Mitieli Vulikijapani (knee), Jack Walker (hamstring) Kye Armstrong (shoulder) and Cobie Wainhouse (knee) all continue nursing their respective injuries.
Paul Wellens made three changes from the team that was knocked out of the Betfred Challenge Cup last weekend to Warrington Wolves.
Out went Alex Walmsley, Lewis Dodd and Daryl Clark, replaced by injured duo Mark Percival and Matty Lees, whilst Ben Davies made his first appearance since Round 1.
The Match
St Helens started the match with real intent, and scored the games opening try with just four minutes on the clock.
After forcing an early goal line drop out, they created an overlap and took full advantage, Hurrell giving a nice pass to Makinson to dive in in the corner, with Percival adding the extras from the touchline.
Hull remained in the contest, but 10 minutes later the hosts struck again.
Mata’utia broke the line through the back of the markers, and as he approached the full back gave a simple pass to Lomax to score.
Hull had their first opportunity to attack midway through the half as Danny Houghton forced an error on Joe Batchelor, but they couldn’t make it count with an error early in the tackle count.
From the resulting set Saints went down the other end and it took an outstanding one on one tackle from Logan Moy to prevent Joe Batchelor from extending Saints lead.
Despite Hull holding out their hosts for five sets, the dam eventually broke.
Matt Whitley looked to wrapped up on the last tackle but managed to smuggle an offload away to Jack Welsby. The ball found its’ way to Waqa Blake to touch down.
Shortly afterwards another try came Saints’ way. Two big left foot steps from James Bell back on the inside created enough space for him to be able to power over Logan Moy and reach out to score.
With less than 90 seconds remaining in the first half Hull ventured into Saints territory for just the second time. Jordan Lane made a trademark break down the left edge, and Morgan Smith’s kick forced an error from Waqa Blake, but the Black & Whites ran out of time before the half-time hooter.
Half Time: St Helens 24 – 0 Hull FC
St Helens crossed for the opening try of the second half less than five minutes after the restart.
A simple drop off play from Jonny Lomax to Joe Batchelor didn’t look especially threatening, but a slip from a Hull defender gave the space for the England International to race in untouched.
Less than five minutes later Saints were in again, a wide pass from Lomax got Percival on the outside of his man and he had enough to break through the one on one tackle.
The floodgates had now opened, and Konrad Hurrel’s try made it three in 10 minutes, as Welsby provided another assist for the Tongan to score.
Saints got the next try. Denive Balmforth, fresh on from the interchange bench, couldn’t quite grasp an interception and from there Saints continued to be ruthless, and Sironen was too big and strong for Hull’s defence.
With 10 minutes left on the clock Blake got his second of the night, Saints attack stripping Hull’s defence of numbers, and Ben Davies showed the composure to put Blake away.
Full Time: St Helens 58 – 0 Hull FC
Squads:
St Helens: Jon Bennison, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurell, Mark Percival, Waqa Blake, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Sione Mata’utia, Moses Mbye, Matty Lees, Matt Whitley, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles
Interchange: Ben Davies, Curtis Sironen, George Delaney, James Bell
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Danell McIntosh, Davy Litten, Liam Sutcliffe, Lewis Martin, Jack Charles, Morgan Smith, Herman Ese’ese, Danny Houghton, Franklin Pele, Jordan Lane, Cam Scott, Joe Cator
Interchange: Denive Balmforth, Matty Laidlaw, Will Gardiner, Zach Jebson
Scorers:
St Helens Tries: Tommy Makinson (4), Jonny Lomax (15), Waqa Blake (28), James Bell (35), Joe Batchelor (44), Mark Percival (49), Konrad Hurrell (51), Curtis Sironen (58), Waqa Blake (69), Jack Welsby (79)
St Helens Goals: Mark Percival (6/7), Jon Bennison (2/2)
Hull FC Tries: –
Hull FC Goals: –
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