Hull FC 10-42 St Helens

Hull FC had a difficult task as they took on second-placed St Helens in the Super League. The Black and White have lost both of their fixtures since returning from an enforced break. It seemed Brett Hodgson’s men were turning a corner, however, with a dominating performance against Leeds only to lose 22-12 on Thursday evening. St Helens already have silverware this season after winning the Challenge Cup, beating Hull in the semi-finals.

The visitors got the scoring underway after just four minutes, Roby with a neat kick through Thompson providing the finishing touches. Saints second try came shortly after Naiqama with a clever flicked offload to his winger Makinson to touchdown in the corner. A penalty from Coote took the Saints lead to 10 points. Welsby got his first try of the night after some scrappy play. A kick through bobbled and bounced neither side dealt with it well until the young winger dived over. Hull finally struck in the 36th minute. Sneyd’s high bomb was fumbled under pressure by full-back Coote for an easy collect and try for in-form winger Swift. Hull was in the game throughout but lacked a cutting edge and any venom in the attack. Half-time saw FC 16-4 down.

Reynolds’s diagonal kick to the wing found Faraimo, to give Hull the start to the second-half they wanted. Just six points in the game and plenty of time on the clock, it seemed the game could go either way. Hull was reduced to 12 men for the third game in a row when Johnstone was sin-binned for a shoulder charge just shy of the hour mark and from there the Saints found another gear. Coote kicked a penalty to increase the advantage, this was shortly followed by Amor dropping on a Roby kick underneath the posts. It was to be another short grubber kick that undid the FC defence, this time Coote tapped through for Naiqama to slide in, which all but sealed the game. No sooner back up to a full complement of men, Hull was back down to 12 after Sao was sin-binned in the 72nd minute. Welsby was on the end of another Coote assist this time with a quick pass to the left-wing. The final try came in the final minute. Sloppy play from a tired team in Black and White. Dodd kicked ahead a pass that when to the ground from in his own 30, racing to the Hull half, then feeding the ball to Welsby who score his hattrick rounding off the win for the visitors.

FC came close on a few occasions but much like the first half just lacked the final play or some luck. Many on the evening brought into question the standard of refereeing, but to lose by such a scoreline suggests St Helens in the end deserved the win.

Report by: Simon Bromwich

Hull FC 10 (4)
Tries: Swift, Faraimo. Goal: Sneyd.

St Helens 42 (16)
Tries: Thompson, Makinson, Welsby 3, Amor, Naiqama. Goals: Coote 7.

Published: 3rd August 2021