Fourth against sixth was a mouthwatering prospect as St
Helens welcomed Hull FC to the Totally Wicked Stadium with two points up for
grabs which could lift Saints into second spot in the table or guarantee Hull
FC’s position in the top six with four rounds remaining.
The home side were big favourites with the bookies, injuries
hitting the Airlie Birds and forcing the bookies to give them a twenty point
start in the handicap coupon.
We’re entering the business end of the season, and this was
a critical game for both sides to win, Hull FC seeking revenge for their 13-6
loss at the beginning of July.
Hull FC lost Jed Cartwright after just five minutes with a
shoulder dislocation, not the best of starts for the visitors. Within a couple
of minutes of the loss Morgan Knowles took a Daryl Clark pass forty out and rounded
the Hull defence to sprint to the line and dive over by the left upright. Kyle
Feldt added the conversion, Saints up and running.
A thirteenth minute penalty for Saints saw them extending
the lead through the boot of Feldt.
A brilliant Hull tackle from Lewis Martin on Harry Robertson
on the half hour dislodged the ball from the carrier which bounced into goal, Davy
Litten reacting quickest and getting one hand on the bouncing ball to ground. Zak
Hardaker added the conversion for 6-8, the Black & Whites right back in the
game.
Hardaker was wide with a penalty attempt on thirty-seven,
Hull missing the chance to draw level at the interval.
The opening exchanges of the second half were increasingly
fractious.
Herman Ese’ese was caught offside on fifty-one as he
collected a ball knocked on in the tackle. Feldt kicked the goal for a 10-6
lead.
Just after the hour Moses Mbye took a Daryl Clark pass five
from the line and went over by the sticks. Feldt added the extras for 16-6.
On seventy-one FC grabbed a lifeline as Lewis Martin took a
delightful miss-out pass from Aidan Sezer to outpace the Saints defence and
score in the corner. Hardaker was wide with the conversion attempt, Hull still
needing a try and a goal to push the game to golden point.
Feldt missed a penalty goal to kill the game on
seventy-eight but as the clock ran down the Saints defence scrambled to keep FC
out and secure a narrow six point victory.
Saints move into second spot in the table by virtue of a
better points difference than both Wigan Warriors and the Leeds Rhinos and will
be hoping that Wigan lose their game in hand against Wakefield Trinity on
Sunday afternoon. Hull can now be replaced in the top six should Wakefield win
that game and go above them in the table. The race for the six is alive an well
as the sides jostle for position.
St Helens: Welsby, Feldt (G 4/5), Robertson, Percival,
Dagnall, Sailor, Mbye (T), Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Whitley, Knowles (T).
Subs: Lomax, Batchelor, Paasi, Delaney. 18th Man: Burns.
Hull FC: Hardaker (G 1/3), Barron, Briscoe, Litten (T),
Martin (T), Rapana, Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Aydin, Cartwright, Lane, Fash. Subs:
Ashworth, Chamberlain, Cust, Laidlaw. 18th Man: Gardiner.
Half-Time: 8-6.
Full-Time: 16-10.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 8-0, 8-4, 8-6 : HT: 10-6, 14-6,
16-6, 16-10 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: St Helens.
Referee: Liam Moore.
