SAINTS secured their first win in four outings as they outgunned Hull 28-14 at the Stobart Stadium.
It was a toil at times and a little ugly in parts but they were tenacious in defence and made it stick when it mattered to record a much needed win.
Royce Simmons’ side flew out of the blocks to lead 14-0 after 23 minutes.
Chris Flannery and a double from Francis Meli gave them a deserved advantage before Hull got back into the match through Tom Briscoe.
In the second half, Jordan Turner put his side within six before Jamie Foster extended the gap to eight with a penalty.
But Tommy Makinson increased the lead with his seventh of the campaign and then Jonny Lomax produced some fleet of foot to put the game to bed.
Saints made two changes from the team that lost to Warrington last week, Josh Perry starting at prop in place of the suspended Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Shaun Magennis coming in on the bench.
For Hull, Sam Obst didn’t make the 17 so Joe Westerman switched to stand-off with Reece Lyne given the final bench spot.
The visitors started strongly and after finishing their sets off well, almost got in when Richard Horne chipped through.
Tommy Makinson then was set free down the right hand side but was taken into touch.
Moments later James Graham rampaged through the middle of the defence and fed Lomax – but the ball went to ground on the next tackle.
But after Saints won the ball in the middle of the pitch, a typically-strong run from Chris Flannery saw him plunge over.
Foster giving Saints a 6-0 advantage after 15 minutes.
Three minutes later it was 10-0 as Francis Meli stormed on to a flat pass and showed all his strength to get in.
He then doubled his tally for the match as Saints battered Hull down their left once more with a sweeping move – his 105th in the Red Vee.
Hull hit back almost immediately when Cameron Phelps got a superb offload out to Tom Briscoe for the youngster to score in the corner.
With their tails up, Hull were a different prospect and hammered at Saints line time and time again.
But Saints defended well to keep them out – yet kept returning the ball through poor control.
And it was that, plus some ill-discipline that almost saw Hull cross again. This time the ball went from left to right and Meli’s flying tackle just about stopped them getting back into the game.
Half time: Saints 14 Hull 4
Hull got off to the best possible start when Jordan Turner found a gap between three defenders to put down for the softest of tries.
But Saints forged ahead when Jamie Foster kicked a penalty following a high shot on Graham.
On 58 minutes, Saints thought they’d gone further ahead – Wilkin’s massive high ball was taken by Wellens who drove for the line… and was adjudged to have knocked on as he went over.
But they made no mistake three minutes later – Sia finding space down the right for Tommy Makinson to bag his seventh of the season.
Foster making it 22-8.
Lomax added Saints fifth of the night as he stepped off both feet to cut through the defence – converted by Foster – to record a much-needed win.
Hull gaining a consolation through Briscoe as the hooter went.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Flannery, Meli (2), Makinson, Lomax
Goals: Foster (4 from 6)
Hull FC:
Tries: Briscoe (2), Turner
Goals: Tickle (0 from 2), Westerman (1 from 1)
Penalties:
Saints: 5
Hull FC: 8
HT: 14-4
FT: 28-14
REF: Ben Thaler
ATT: 7053
Teams:
Saints:
1. Paul Wellens; 28. Thomas Makinson, 4. Sia Soliola, 5. Francis Meli, 22. Jamie Foster; 25. Lee Gaskell, 20. Jonny Lomax; 10. James Graham, 9. James Roby, 8. Josh Perry, 13. Chris Flannery, 12. Jon Wilkin, 11. Tony Puletua.
Subs: 7. Kyle Eastmond, 14. Scott Moore, 18. Matty Ashurst, 21. Shaun Magennis.
Hull FC:
20. Cameron Phelps; 3. Richard Whiting, 19. Jordan Turner, 4. Kirk Yeaman, 5. Tom Briscoe; 11. Joe Westerman, 6. Richard Horne; 8. Mark O’Meley, 9. Danny Houghton, 23. Sam Moa, 16. Willie Manu, 12. Danny Tickle, 14. Danny Washbrook.
Subs: 10. Lee Radford, 15. Epalahame Lauaki, 17. Ewan Dowes, 21. Reece Lyne.
