SAINTS suffered their third defeat of the season with a 28-20 loss at home to Hull FC on Easter Monday.
Battered and bruised from their Good Friday exploits, they put in a solid shift – with two youngsters making their bow – but ultimately couldn’t overhaul their opponents with the game locked at 20-20.
Saints had led 12-10 at the break.
Giving debutants to 19-year-old Jack Ashworth at centre and Ricky Bailey, 17, on the wing, Tommy Makinson and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook cancelled out tries from Jamie Shaul and Curtis Naughton.
Leon Pryce bagged one against his former employers early in the second half but an Alex Walmsley inspired power run set Jordan Turner away.
Saints probably should have closed out the game but Fetuli Talanoa and a late Shaul effort handed Hull the spoils.
FC struck first after Saints had produced a decent opening set.
Bailey and Matty Dawson went up for a high ball – getting in each other’s way – and on the resultant new set, following a penalty for interference, Shaul ghosted in on the angle.
It was hardly the start the home side wanted and on Hull’s next attack they forced two repeats and won a penalty.
Saints defended their lines and almost replied when James Roby made a break.
The hooker was instrumental in Saints’ first try of the afternoon.
On 15 minutes he combined with Lance Hohaia to put Tommy Makinson over.
The winger – at full back in place of Paul Wellens – showing great feet to dance past the defence.
After a nervy start it was exactly what the doctor ordered because Saints scored on their very next set.
Forcing an error they attacked Hull’s 20 and Turner found LMS on the burst for 10-6.
Makinson tagging his second conversion of the afternoon.
Saints should have gone further ahead but conceded when two penalties handed Curtis Naughton the space to dive in the corner.
Alex Walmsley hacked on a Hull error in the 25th minute and put down under pressure – but the referee bizarrely pulled it back for the first indiscretion.
Saints couldn’t make a drop out and a repeat set pay on 35 minutes and the home side’s D did the trick on Hull’s next attack.
In the second half, Bailey made way for Flanagan with Jones heading into the centres.
Hull retook the lead on 46 minutes as Saints, once again penalised, failed to stop the run of Leon Pryce.
Rankin added his second conversion of the afternoon but Saints should have hit right back following another wonderful Roby run.
He danced through the defence and set Hohaia free, but the chance was lost on the last.
Saints weren’t to be denied though and shortly after Jordan Turner showed great strength to get over following Alex Walmsley’s computer game run.
He certainly did press X repeatedly!
Makinson putting Saints ahead with the conversion.
Saints had their tails up but went behind in controversial circumstances.
On 65 minutes, Hohaia gets called for a knock on that looked suspect and on the subsequent set Talanoa flew over in the corner off a slightly suspect pass.
No matter though as five minutes later Makinson slotted over to level.
On 75 minutes Saints had a set that got them right into Hull’s territory. The ball went to ground and within seconds Shaul was under the sticks for his second.
Rankin converted and then added a penalty with the clock kicking down to seal the points.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Makinson, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Turner
Goals: Makinson (4 from 4)
Hull FC:
Tries: Shaul (2), Naughton, Pryce, Talanoa
Goals: Rankin (4 from 6)
Penalties:
Saints: 6
Hull FC: 8
HT: 12-10
FT: 20-28
REF: Robert Hicks
ATT: 11,088
Teams:
Saints:
2. Tommy Makinson; 33. Ricky Bailey, 22. Matty Dawson, 28. Jack Ashworth, 5. Adam Swift; 3. Jordan Turner, 16. Lance Hohaia; 8. Mose Masoe, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 4. Josh Jones, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 25. Andre Savelio.
Subs: 14. Alex Walmsley, 15. Mark Flanagan, 18. Luke Thompson, 19. Greg Richards.
Hull FC:
1. Jamie Shaul; 2. Tom Lineham, 19. Steve Michaels, 5. Fetuli Talanoa, 20. Curtis Naughton; 6. Leon Pryce, 32. Jordan Rankin; 8. Mickey Paea, 34. Stuart Howarth, 22. Josh Bowden, 17. Dean Hadley, 12. Mark Minichiello, 13. Joe Westerman.
Subs: 9. Danny Houghton, 14. Iafeta Palea’aesina, 16. Jordan Thompson, 23. James Cunningham.
