Zeb Taia bagged a brace as Saints continued their good form with a 26-12 win over Hull FC.
He took his season’s tally to six whilst Mark Percival and Luke Thompson both added four-pointers to lift Saints clear at the top of the table.
It brought Justin Holbrook’s side their third win in eight days – but more importantly proved they could once again cope with adversity.
Ben Barba was ruled out with illness in the build up to the game – James Roby injured in the second half.
Saints dominated the first half and probably should have been further ahead than 6-0 at oranges.
After Jonny Lomax went close on an arcing run, Theo Fages chipped over to the charging Taia who made no mistake in plucking it out of the air to get Saints on the board.
Richardson added the extras before, on 15 minutes, Hull had one chalked off for a knock on.
Saints had dominated up until that point but back to back penalties had allowed the visitors the chance to build pressure.
Holbrook’s men defended their lines desperately and won a drop out, but Lomax couldn’t take Roby’s bullet pass to increase the lead.
Up the other end of the field, Jordan Lane lost the ball over the line on the half hour mark and then a group tackle forced the ball out of the grasp of Jake Connor as the half came to a close.
Saints extended their lead just two minutes into the second half.
After Hull knocked on following Fages’ tricky kick to the corner, the ball came right from the scrum and Lomax caught Percival on a fantastic line.
Richardson added the conversion and then tagged on a penalty on 50 minutes after Connor was caught for lifting.
Hull did get on the scoreboard ten minutes later – Albert Kelly taking probably the most forward pass you will ever see to get his side back into it.
Thompson had one chalked off for a knock-on on 60 minutes- but Taia grabbed his second seven minutes later when Smith and Fages combined on the last.
Thompson finally got the nod from the video referee after great work from LMS as the game entered its final stages before Chris Green crossed for a scant consolation.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Taia (2), Percival, Thompson
Goals: Richardson (5 from 5)
Hull FC:
Tries: Kelly, Green
Goals: Sneyd (2 from 2)
Penalties Awarded:
Saints: 4
Hull FC: 5
HT: 6-0
FT: 26-12
REF: R Hicks
ATT: 10,408
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 19. Regan Grace; 6. Theo Fages, 18. Danny Richardson; 10. Kyle Amor, 9. James Roby, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Dom Peyroux, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin.
Subs: 7. Matty Smith, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 15. Morgan Knowles.
Hull FC:
1. Jamie Shaul; 24. Jack Logan, 4. Josh Griffin, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 5. Fetuli Talanoa; 6. Albert Kelly, 7. Marc Sneyd; 8. Scott Taylor, 9. Danny Houghton, 23. Mickey Paea, 17. Danny Washbrook, 26. Jordan Lane, 20. Brad Fash.
Subs: 13. Josh Bowden, 14. Jake Connor, 15. Chris Green, 16. Jordan Abdull.
RD10: Saints v Hull FC
Match Action (Bernard Platt)
