Saints started on the front foot and took the lead in the seventh minute. We were awarded a penalty after Tommy Makinson was taken out off the ball during a high kick. From the tap we opted to go down the short-side and James Roby found Konrad Hurrell, he then found Makinson to stroll over in the corner. Makinson missed the conversion, 4-0 Saints led.
Hull had a chance to respond off the back of a big break downfield from veteran skipper Danny Houghton, Ligi Sao tried to power over from close range however he fumbled the ball so Saints survived. Hull had another great chance to respond minutes later as the broke down the left wing, however a great recovery interception from Jack Welsby not only stopped the Hull attack but gave Saints the ball back a metre out from their own line.
Hull did respond though as we entered the final quarter of the first half. Saints left a gap in their line which Jake Connor saw and put a kick through, Darnell McIntosh won the foot race to put the visitors on level terms. Connor was unable to convert so the scores were tied at 4-4.
Saints looked like they had re-taken the lead with 14 seconds of the half left. Welsby was dragged backwards towards the black and whites’ line and managed to get his arm free to ground the ball. After a video referee review, the try was awarded. Makinson added the extras with the final kick of the half, 10-4 Saints led at the break.
Interchange James Bell was sent to the sin bin just minutes into the second period, after a ‘flip’ tackle in the middle of the pitch. Despite having a man less, the Saints had the next chance of the game. A high kick to the short-side was fumbled by Connor, Saints grounded the loose ball but after a video referee review the try was not given.
Saints did get the first points of the half though in the 52nd minute. Hull tried to kick a goal-line dropout short and Roby managed to grab the loose ball, Connor laid on the tackle thinking he had it, but it was Saints who got awarded the penalty. Makinson kicked it to make it 12-4.
The lead was extended shortly after. A great break by Man of the Match Hurrell down the right wing put Saints in a three-one-one scenario, he found Lomax on his inside who strolled under the sticks. Makinson converted to make it 18-4 to the hosts.
Saints’ fourth try of the night came with just over ten minutes to go. The Red Vee went down the short-side as Hurrell found Makinson who stepped well past a defender to score his second of the evening. Makinson converted his own try from the right touchline, 24-4 Saints led.
Saints though they had their fifth try with eight minutes to go as Sione Mata’utia strolled over from close range but the referee awarded the visitors a penalty for an obstruction.
Hull FC did grab a consolation with five minutes to go as they worked the ball from left to right for McIntosh to go in for his second try of the night. Connor converted, 24-10.
That was to be a mere consolation, as Saints extended their lead at the top of the table to two points after a 24-10 success over Hull FC.
Match Summary
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Sione Mata’utia, Mark Percival, Ben Davies, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, James Bell.
Tries: Tommy Makinson (7, 68), Jack Welsby (40), Jonny Lomax (58)
Conversions: Tommy Makinson (3 from 4)
Penalties: Tommy Makinson (1 from 1)
Sin Bin: James Bell (43)
Hull FC Team: Jake Connor, Darnell McIntosh, Carlos Tuimavave, Connor Wynne, Jamie Shaul, Josh Reynolds, Josaia Lovodua, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Ligi Sao, Jordan Lane, Manu Ma’u, Brad Fash.
Interchanges: Jack Brown, Josh Griffin, Tevita Satae, Jordan Johnstone.
Tries: Darnell McIntosh (30, 75)
Conversions: Jake Connor (1 from 2)
HT: 10-4
FT: 24-10
Attendance: 11,268
