It was an afternoon to forget for the Black & Whites, with St Helens putting in a dominant second-half display to record a 46-6 scoreline at the MKM Stadium.
Hull trailed 10-0 at the break after a first-half of promise, but the visitors showed their class after the break scoring eight tries to FC’s one.
Team News
Simon Grix made four changes to the side that visited Catalans last weekend.
Logan Moy and Matty Laidlaw both returned to the lineup.
Loanee pair Tiaki Chan and Leon Ruan also came in to the team, with the latter making his debut for the club.
Herman Ese’ese and King Vuniyayawa both dropped out through ankle injuries, while Liam Sutcliffe was sidelined with a foot injury.
Ligi Sao served the first of his two match suspension.
The Match
Both sides started the game well on the ball, completing their sets well in the opening exchanges. However, it was Saints who had the first opportunity five minutes in. Daryl Clark tumbled over the line on the last play but was held up by strong FC defence.
Hull then raced down the other end and nearly scored a spectacular try, with Barron catching the kick and sending through Aydin, but the pass was forward.
The Black and Whites were gifted another good opportunity a few moments later after a high tackle. Barron took Trueman’s kick well at the end of the set but couldn’t find a way over the line.
The game slowed down over the next ten minutes, with both sides finding their rhythm and completing well, but chances proved hard to come by.
The best chance of the game so far for Hull came on the 20th minute, with Jack Walker choosing to run the ball on the last and breaking the line, but there was no one in support and the threat quickly came to an end.
Saints thought they’d scored the opening try a few minutes later, with Matty Lees burrowing over but after a lengthy video referee check, he was adjudged to have been held up by Logan Moy.
Paul Wellens side were nearly over again a few sets later, but Waqa Blake knocked the ball forward into Makinson who grounded the ball.
However, St. Helens did score the opening try after 26 minutes. A break down the middle of the field was finished off by Lewis Dodd who went in under the posts. Makinson added the extras.
The visitors continued to pile the pressure on and started a set ten metres out on the half hour mark. A penalty against Hull for offside saw two straight sets on the home sides line and Wellens side took advantage, with Tommy Makinson dotting down in the corner. He couldn’t convert his own try.
The last act of the first half saw FC with a big opportunity, but nothing came of it as Lane was held up on the last tackle.
Half-Time: Hull FC 0-10 St Helens
Saints started the second half on top and got over for a third try. Similar to their first, Lewis Dodd finished a break down the middle of the field. Makinson converted the try. Dodd went close to his hat trick on the next set, but knocked on and the ball was quickly pounced on by Aydin.
Saints early second half dominance continued, forcing a drop out. Wellens team got over for their fourth on the 50th minute mark off the back of it, with Daryl Clark bursting on to a short pass and going over under the posts. Makinson converted from dead in front. They went close to back to back tries but a fantastic tackle from Chamberlain kept them out.
Hull had a chance of their own as the game headed into its final quarter. The ball was shipped well through the hands to Barron who linked up well with Moy, but the Black and Whites were kept out once again. A penalty on the next set released the pressure.
FC were then reduced to 12, with Brad Fash being sin binned for a late tackle. The resulting penalty led to St Helens next try, with Matt Whitley spinning out of a tackle and touching down. Makinson was on target again with the boot. A brilliant take by Barron under Dodd’s cross field kickprevented the Saints from going back to back.
The visitors got over again with just under 15 minutes to go, Jake Burns charged through a gap in the line to score their sixth of the afternoon. Makinson converted once more.
Hull were the ones with the next opportunity to post points. Martin was alone in space down the left edge, and FC shipped the ball over that way but the final pass was wayward. The visitors quickly got back on the front foot and Agnatius Paasi danced out of a tackle to score the next try. Makinson added the extras with under 10 minutes to go.
Saints scored their last of the game came with under five minutes to go, with Jake Burns getting his second of the afternoon. Makinson was on target again.
The Black and Whites hit back late on, with Jack Walker quickest to the kick and touching down left of the posts. Jordan Lane kicked the conversion.
Full Time: Hull FC 6-46 St Helens
The Squads
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Harvey Barron, Carlos Tuimavave, Tom Briscoe, Lewis Martin, Jack Walker, Jake Trueman, Yusuf Aydin, Morgan Smith, Brad Fash, Jordan Lane, Ed Chamberlain, Will Gardiner.
Interchanges: Denive Balmforth, Matty Laidlaw, Tiaki Chan, Leon Ruan.
18th Man: Zach Jebson
St Helens: Harry Robertson, Tommy Makinson, Waqa Blake, Ben Davies, Tee Ritson, Moses Mbye, Lewis Dodd, Matty Lees, Daryl Clark, Agnatius Paasi, Matt Whitley, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Joe Batchelor, James Bell, Jake Burns, Noah Stephens.
18th Man: Jon Bennison
The Scorers
Hull FC Tries: Walker (78)
Hull FC Conversions: Lane (79)
St Helens Tries: Dodd (26, 42), Makinson (34), Clark (49), Whitley (61), Burns (65, 75), Paasi (70)
St Helens Conversions: Makinson (27, 43, 50, 61, 66, 71, 76)
Attendance, sponsored by Garbutts: 9,885
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