Tommy Makinson grabbed a first half hat-trick which helped send the Saints into the Betfred Super League Playoffs on the back of a hard working 22-6 win over Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium.
Hull got off to the better start of the two teams putting Saints under early pressure in a must win game for the hosts as they vowed to keep their playoff hopes alive.
But against the run of play, it was Saints who opened the scoring through Makinson as we attacked down the right hand side with Theo Fages linking up with Lachlan Coote and he provided the cut out pass to Makinson who finished in typical flying fashion to give Saints the lead. Coote was unable to add the extras.
Saints extended their lead minutes later with Makinson scoring his second try. An inch perfect kick from Fages to the corner found Makinson in mid air and he collected the ball and touched down. Coote converted brilliantly off the touchline.
Hull responded through Taylor after an offload from Josh Griffin was picked up by Jamie Shaul and he shot through the gap and found an offload to Taylor who crashed over next to the posts. Sneyd added the extras.
The hosts almost levelled the scoring with Sneyd chasing his own kick through, but he was unable to pick up the ball with the line at his mercy and Saints punished them.
Saints went one hundred metres in the next set and the play resulted in James Roby going down the short side finding Coote and he fed Makinson who touched down to complete a first half hat-trick.
Just like the first half the hosts started the half on top having three sets on the Saints line, but as it has all season the Saints defence stood firm before Ratu Naulago was adjudged to have knocked on before he could touch down in the corner.
Saints got the first try of the second half after an excellent break saw Makinson fly through a gap in the Hull defence. On the next tackle Saints attacked the short side with Fages finding Zeb Taia and he fed Mark Percival who stepped back inside the covering defenders and wrestled his way over the line.
Saints wrapped up victory in the final minutes as Coote who had been magnificent all night providing the cut out pass to Grace who scored in the corner as the Red Vee ended the season with another all-time record – 16 points clear of second place.
Match Summary
Hull FC: Shaul, Naulago, Tuimavave, Griffin, Faraimo, Kelly, Sneyd, Taylor, Houghton, satae, Ellis, Minichiello, Lane.
Interchanges: Bowden, Connor, Fash, Matongo.
Tries: Taylor (28).
Goals: Sneyd ( 1 from 1).
St Helens: Coote; Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Fages, Thompson, Roby, Walmsley, Knowles, Peyroux, Taia
Interchanges: Amor, LMS, Bentley, Ashworth.
Tries: Makinson (8,16,35), Percival (64), Grace (77).
Goals: Coote (1 from 4)
Referee: Liam Moore
HT: 6-14
FT: 6-22
ATT: 11,004
