Saints » Results

Matty Smith slotted over a great penalty with seconds to go from a difficult angle as Saints beat Hull FC 30-29.

Saints fought back three times to win a thrilling encounter as both sides swept aside their injury worries to put on a pulsating clash.

In several enforced changes, Smith stepped up in place of the injured Sean Long and James Roby started at loose forward as Jon Wilkin was deemed unfit to play.

Kyle Eastmond and Ste Tyrer also made appearances off the bench.

Hull lost Ewan Downes in last week’s defeat at Huddersfield so Mike Burnett took his place in the 17.

Saints started well putting in the big hits in the opening exchanges, but it was Hull who struck first through Adam Dykes who took a nice pass following a kick through. Tickle easy with the extras.

On nine minutes, Hull scored again when Danny Houghton stretched towards the whitewash and referee Silverwood adjudged that he put the ball down. Danny Tickle made it 12-0 to the visitors.

Matty Smith then put up an excellent high ball into the left Eddington Stand corner to force another set of six.

And on the next passage of play Saints scored a try their expansive style deserved.

A superb passing move led Gardner to score his 99^th try for the club – with Smith, Pryce, Cunningham and Matt Gidley combining to send the winger in. Smith unlucky with the extras from the corner.

That score seemed to pick up Saints who began to pass the ball more fluently and with pace.

And that was none more typified when a beautiful drop pass earlier in the play led to Matty Smith streaking in under pressure from 20 yards. The former Everton FC apprentice tagging on the extras to make it a two point game.

Mike Bennett was introduced to the play on 25 minutes and after making two excellent tackles was deemed to be not square. Tickle kicked the resultant penalty to make it 10-14.

Kyle Eastmond came on with ten minutes left in the half and immediately made an impact, flooring a would be tackler and forcing him off the field with a superb and aggressive hand off.

Smith then chipped a ball over the top to force a drop out and a repeat set on Hull’s line.

Saints drew level with a try out of the top drawer. Pryce took the ball to the line, dropped a pearler of a pass to Wellens who strode clear and put in a precise kick for Talau to score. Smith put Saints ahead.

And then from the restart, Wellens went through again and Kyle notched up his first four-pointer in the Red Vee. Smith made it 22-14 as the hooter went.

Half Time: Saints 22 Hull FC 14

Saints threatened to score early doors in the second until a pass from Pryce was intercepted by Craig Hall who went fully 90 yards to score. Tickle made it a two point game once again.

To be fair to the stand off, if his pass would have gone to Talau, Saints would have been further ahead.

Hull then took advantage of a Saints’ error to go ahead. Danny Washbrook with the four pointer.

But Saints stuck to the task and upped their work rate in both defence and attack. Ade Gardner went close following a great Matty Smith high ball and Willie Talau.

10 minutes later Smith chipped to the corner but Gardner was just short on reclaiming the ball from Gareth Raynor.

But Hull went further ahead when Yeaman latched onto a kick through with around 11 to go.

Saints gave themselves a fighting chance when Roby followed up on his own kick to go over. Smith then tied the game up to set up a dramatic ending.

Dykes dropped a goal from 40 yards to give Hull the lead, but from the kick off Saints got a drop out and a set on Hull’s line.

And Gidley thought he had gone in the corner but was held up.

Saints got one final set of six at Hull and earned a penalty wide out on the left. Matty Smith planted it straight through the posts!

Match Summary

Saints:

Tries: Gardner, Smith, Talau, Eastmond, Roby

Goals: Smith (5 from 6)

Hull:

Tries: Dykes, Houghton, Hall, Washbrook, Yeaman

Goals: Tickle (4 from 5)

Drop: Dykes

Penalties:

Saints: 9

Hull: 6

HT (Sts First): 22-14

FT (Sts First): 30-29

ATT: 10,204

REF: Richard Silverwood

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce 20. Matty Smith; 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 17. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 21. Paul Clough, 14. James Roby.

Subs: 15. Mike Bennett, 22. Ste Tyrer, 24. Kyle Eastmond, 26. Gareth Frodsham.

Hull FC:

1. Motu Tony; 2. Matt Sing, 25. Todd Byrne, 3. Kirk Yeaman, 5. Gareth Raynor; 13. Danny Washbrook, 7. Adam Dykes; 26. Peter Cusack, 20. Danny Houghton, 15. Paul King, 17. Graeme Horne, 12. Danny Tickle, 23. Tommy Lee.

Subs: 27. Tom Briscoe, 4. Craig Hall, 22. Mike Burnett, 18. Scott Wheeldon.