An error-ridden game at the MKM Stadium resulted in St Helens coming away with the two points on Saturday afternoon.
A brace from Kyle Feldt was enough for the visitors, with the Black & Whites only try coming through Davy Litten in the second-half.
Team News
John Cartwright made just one change to the seventeen that lined-up against Warrington last weekend with Jed Cartwright returning from injury to be named on the bench, replacing Jack Charles in the squad.
In several positional changes, Zak Hardaker started at full-back while Jordan Rapana moved into the centres; Tom Briscoe dropped to the bench, while Jack Ashworth started in the back-rower.
Will Pryce (hamstring), Ligi Sao (knee), John Asiata (hamstring), Jordan Lane (arm) and Liam Watts (knee) remained on the list of absentees for the Black & Whites.
The Match
Saints earned the first points of the game courtesy of a penalty goal as Liam Knight was penalised for a late shot. Jonny Lomax slotted over for the two points from twenty-five metres out.
The visitors enjoyed much of the early field position, and made it count with the first try of the game after 15 minutes, with Kyle Feldt finding space in the corner to bounce off an FC defender and touch down. Lomax converted.
Saints continued to pile on the pressure as the half progressed, with the Black & Whites struggling to get out of their own half.
Hull’s best chance of the opening half came through Jed Cartwright on his return to action, who’s attacking run saw him dance across the Saints defensive line but drop the ball as he looked to find an offload to his wing attackers who were in space on the left flank.
Lewis Martin looks to get Hull back in the contest when he went over in the corner with a spectacular acrobatic diving finish, but could not quite keep hold of the ball in the process.
Half-Time: Hull FC 0-8 St Helens
Saints started the second-half the stronger of the two sides, and had their second try of the contest after just five minutes with Feldt leaping the highet to collect a cross-field kick and dot down in the corner, getting over his opposition winger in Lewis Martin.
John Cartwright’s men opened their account for the afternoon with just less than half an hour to play; a break from Aidan Sezer within his own half saw him with open field in front of him. Davy Litten raced up in support to finish the move at pace. Hardaker converted to bring the gap to six points.
Saints could have gone further ahead when a bullet pass headed the way of Harry Robertson on the left flank with twenty to play, but thankfully the ball went into touch.
The visitors were denied by the video referee once more with 15 minutes to play – Harry Robertson looked to dive over for his own acrobatic finish in the corner, but the try was turned down.
Hull piled on the pressure with multiple sets on the Saints line in the final ten minutes, but the game was as good as over when Lomax nailed a drop-goal with two minutes to play.
Full-Time: Hull FC 6-13 St Helens
Squads & Scorers
Hull FC: Hardaker, Barron, Rapana, Litten, Martin, Cust, Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Knight, Ashworth, Chamberlain, Aydin.
Interchange: Briscoe, Cartwright, Fash, Eseh (Charles 18th)
Tries: Litten (52)
Goals: Hardaker (1/1)
St Helens: Sailor, Feldt, Robertson, Whitley, Dagnell, Lomax, Mbye, Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Wingfield, Knowles.
Interchange: Paasi, Delaney, Stephens, Burns (Bennison 18th)
Tries: Feldt (15,45)
Goals: Lomax (2/2)
Drop-Goal: Lomax (78)
Rowe Freight Man of the Match: Zak Hardaker
Attendance, in association with Garbutts: 11,533
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