A TRY and three goals from Mark Percival wasn’t enough as Saints went down 24-14 at Hull on Friday night.
A much improved performance saw Saints lead 8-6 at the break and 14-10 deep into the second half, before a controversial penalty after a Carlos Tuimavave try saw the hosts home.
After bemoaning their starts over the last couple of games, Keiron Cunningham would have been happy with his side’s first half showing.
They started brightly, pushing their hosts back on their own line in succession – but 12 minutes in Albert Kelly broke the deadlock.
A penalty in midfield handed Hull the impetus before the stand off picked a gap and squeezed the ball down.
Undeterred, Saints continued to press home their territorial advantage and finally took one of their chances when Hull misfielded a Theo Fages’ chip on the last.
The ball took a ricochet and landed into the hands of Dominique Peyroux who made no mistake.
Percival levelling it up with the boot.
Saints weathered three back to back penalties at the half hour mark with some great scrambling defence, and then went ahead via the boot of Percival after Danny Houghton was penalised for interference.
That’s how it stayed until half time until the penalty pendulum swung the home side’s way.
Saints began the second half in a positive fashion but gave Marc Sneyd the chance to knock over a penalty four minutes in and he made no mistake.
And back to back penalties handed him another in the 53rd minute to give Hull the lead.
Saints fashioned some pressure when Jon Wilkin’s kick, and Adam Swift’s chase, forced Hull to knock it into touch.
But they couldn’t make it pay and the chance was lost on the next set.
Then came a crucial moment.
Saints were on the front foot when Alex Walmsley drove the ball in at the hour mark.
As he fell to the ground Jansin Turgut inexplicably elbowed him in the face and received 10 minutes for his troubles.
Percival kicked the resultant penalty and then scored in the corner on Saints’ very next move.
The ball was swept left and Zeb Taia laid it on a plate for his centre.
Saints were on top but a simple error let Hull back into it.
The visitors lost the ball on their own line and within a blink of an eye Carlos Tuimavave had ghosted through the defence.
Sneyd kicked the conversion, and then gained another two pointer in front of the posts as Alex Walmsley was deemed to have slid in to the centre as he scored.
Saints almost drew level at the death as the ball was pinged from side to side but Scott Taylor’s break and pass to Albert Kelly gave the scoreline a harsh look.
Match Summary:
Hull FC:
Tries: Kelly (2), Tuimavave
Goals: Sneyd (6 from 6)
Saints:
Tries: Peyroux, Percvial
Goals: Percival (3 from 4)
Penalties Awarded:
Hull FC: 11
Saints: 7
HT: 6-8
FT: 24-14
REF: Phil Bentham
ATT: 11,587
Teams:
Hull FC:
1. Jamie Shaul; 2. Mahe Fonua, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 4. Josh Griffin, 5. Fetuli Talanoa; 6. Albert Kelly, 7. Marc Sneyd; 8. Scott Taylor, 9. Danny Houghton, 22. Josh Bowden, 21. Sika Manu, 12. Mark Minichiello, 16. Jordan Thompson.
Subs: 15. Chris Green, 17. Danny Washbrook, 25. Jansin Turgut, 29. Masi Matongo.
Saints:
2. Tommy Makinson; 21. Jack Owens, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Theo Fages, 12. Jon Wilkin; 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 14. Luke Douglas, 36. Zeb Taia, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 20. Morgan Knowles.
Subs: 10. Kyle Amor, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 15. Adam Walker, 17. Tommy Lee.
