An excellent full debut by Chris Flannery and a Francis Meli treble sealed a 31-20 win against a determined Hull FC at Knowsley Road.

 

The man from Sydney was a linchpin in the centre of the field and was backed up by a pack that never stopped going forward and defence that didn’t take their eye off the ball.

 

Saints made a couple of changes from the Semi Final win; Jon Wilkin coming in for the suspended Leon Pryce and Flanno making his first start for the club at loose.

 

Hull were unchanged from last week’s win against Salford.

 

The opening was a tight affair with neither side giving much in attack or defence. Fozzie began with some rampaging runs and Hull’s Thomas Lee started excellently with the boot.

 

Saints had a great chance when two penalties put them within five. But poor handling bombed some good work from Longy. A few minutes later a floating high ball was taken expertly by fill in full back Motu Tony.

 

Talau then broke through; Longy took it on but his clever chip was batted down by Tony with the line begging.

 

Twenty-five minutes in Gilly was taken off the field; looking groggy and Hull were galvanised.

 

They went up the field, passed it wide, cut back inside and Tony scored after the ball was seemingly knocked forward. Tickle added the extras.

 

Perhaps it was against the general run of play. Saints seemed to have lots of pressure in the first 30 minutes, but failed to make best use of the ball in hand when opportunities were presented.

 

But, the home side instantly hit right back on their next set of six. Fa’asavalu made the hard yards, working some space, then Longy sprinted clear and in from around 30 yards. The number seven wide with the extras.

 

Then came Saints again. Maurie got a penalty in midfield and within three tackles Graham got within a yard. Clough then flew over for his third of the season. Longy was a mile wide with the conversion.

 

And Gardner was next in after a total cock up in Hull’s own five. The ball was harmlessly chipped through and Tony made a total hash of the collection. Wilkin picked up on the loose ball and Gards was in. Long added the conversion.

 

It was a total turnaround in fortunes after an up and down Saints performance in the opening 30.

 

Tickle stemmed the flow with a penalty to pull Hull one converted score behind but the fightback was short lived when Head lost his… well.. head.

 

Maurie picked up on a loose ball; Flanno did a great job of taking the ball up and fired a great pass wide to Gards who was held up a metre short. Head laid on too long and he was off to the bin.

 

Another penalty a minute later and Longy tagged on another two.

 

Into the second half and Hull were on the attack after Gardner failed to collect a simple ball. But a forward pass and the chance was gone.

 

Tickle again pulled two back from the boot but Saints fired straightaway to go further ahead.

 

The ball was fed through hands from Wilkin and Talau to create a simple overlap for Meli to exploit. Simple and effective; the big man strolling over.

 

Saints came close a few minutes later when Cunningham nearly barged over for his trademark try. But he dropped the ball under significant Hull pressure.

 

Long took Saints out to 12 with a kick in front of the sticks but Hull wouldn't lie down. With less than a quarter of the game left they forced a drop out. A couple of strong drives and great passing move later drew the Saints defence and Sing went over. Tickle wide with the conversion.

 

But Saints hit back with some scintillating rugby. Flanno intercepted the ball in midfield; Wilkin and Longy exchanged passes and Talau worked the space for Meli to go over.

 

Although Longy missed the conversion, the fast flowing passing move put Saints two converted scores clear once again.

 

But back came Hull once again. Whiting caught a slightly suspicious forward pass, cut inside, kicked forward and Graham Horne scored in the corner. Tickle added the extras.

 

Hull’s tails were up and Saints were rattled – scrambling defence keeping them in the game – and Sean Long’s boot driving them deeper into their own half.

 

With a few minutes to go Thaler penalised Saints on the last tackle and Hull flew up the field. The ball was moved from right to left and some excellent tackling forced Hull into touch a foot short of the line.

 

It was a welcome respite and a timely intervention by Wellens et al that had some fans on the 20 metre line leaping like salmon.

 

Long then added a drop goal and Meli barged over to secure his hat-trick and the win.

 

“Hull were tenacious and kept going all day long, but I felt we deserved the win," explained Saints Head Coach Daniel Anderson. "They lacked a little bit of strike and it was a battle. But the best team won and the points difference reflected that.”

 

 

 

Tries: Long, Clough, Gardner, Meli (3)

Goals: Long (3 from 7), Fa’asavalu (0 from 1)

Drop: Long

 

Tries: Tony, Sing, G.Horne

Goals: Tickle (4 from 5)

 

Saints: 13

Hull FC: 7

 

HT: 16-8

FT: 31-20

ATT: 10,004

MOM: Nick Fozzard

 

REF: Ben Thaler

 

 

 

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 12. Jon Wilkin, 7. Sean Long; 8. Nick Fozzard, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 17. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 15. Mike Bennett, 30. Chris Flannery.

(Subs) 14. James Roby, 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 22. Paul Clough, 23. Maurie Fa'asavalu,

 

14. Motu Tony; 2. Matt Sing, 20. Richard Whiting, 19. Graeme Horne, 22. Craig Hall; 7. Richard Horne, 32. Matt Head; 8. Ewan Dowes, 23. Thomas Lee, 15. Paul King,11. Lee Radford, 17. Willie Manu, 16. Danny Tickle.

(Subs) 27. Danny Houghton, 13. Danny Washbrook, 26. Scott Wheeldon, 21. Hutch Maiava.