Saints v Hull FC

First Half

Saints had the lead two minutes in. A high kick was fumbled by Logan Moy in his own twenty, gifting the Red V field position. From the scrum, Saints went left. Jackson Hastings found Jack Welsby, he passed onto Lewis Murphy who scored a simple finish in the corner. Hastings added the conversion, 6-0 we led.

Hull FC responded quickly. A succession of six again calls pushed them into Saints’ half. They eventually moved the ball through their hands down their right edge and Harvey Barron dove over. Zak Hardaker converted from the touchline, 6-6 it was tied.

Just before the midway point of the first half, Saints were offered the chance to take the lead. Consecutive penalties on the Hull FC line saw the hosts opt for two points. Hastings took aim and converted, 8-6.

We then had a trip to the video referee. Saints made two errors from the kick off which gifted the Black and Whites possession ten metres from our line. A few tackles in, Herman Ese’ese looked to crash his way over from close range but after a review, the on-field verdict of no try was agreed with.

Hull FC did have the lead quickly after though. The visitors forced Saints to dropout. In that repeat set, Jake Arthur threw a cut-out pass to Lewis Martin who raced down the wing, before cutting inside and burying over to score from close range. Hardaker’s conversion went wide across the face of the post, 8-10 we trailed.

They threatened again. A penalty saw them tap quickly and gain 30 metres. They then tried a move down their right edge again but this time around, Saints pushed them into touch. Minutes later they had another chance. Saints made another error inside our half. From the scrum, the Black and Whites again went right but more strong defence from the Red V pushed Barron into touch.

Saints had the lead back before the break. George Whitby found Welsby on his inside down the middle of the field. He fended off a tackle before rounding Logan Moy to score in the corner. Hastings’ conversion bounced in off the post, 14-10.

With the final action of the half, we had another trip to the video referee. Aiden Sezer kicked high to Barron, he claimed the loose ball on the bounce and finished under pressure in the corner. After a check, the try was confirmed. Hardaker missed the conversion attempt with the final kick of the first half, 14-14 we were tied at the break.

Second Half

Saints had the first chance of the second forty four minutes in. Whitby kicked high crossfield from right to left. Murphy won the contest in the air and tried an offload under pressure but the ball went forward.

Hull FC then had their first chance of the half. Joe Batchelor got an offload away whilst going down to Arthur, he tried a kick to the corner which forced Murphy to concede a dropout.

Minutes later, from the repeat set, the visitors did re-take the lead. The moved the ball well through the hands down their right edge, Hardaker finding Barron who finished acrobatically in the corner to complete his hat-trick. Hardaker added the conversion from the right touchline, 14-20.

Three minutes later, Hull FC had a fifth try. Cade Cust spotted a gap from dummy half and made the most of it to score to the right of the sticks. Hardaker converted, 14-26.

The hosts tried to get back into it. Harry Robertson put in a low kick to our left edge and a good chase saw Barron concede a dropout. Minutes later, it was Robertson again who tried a kick and chase this time which forced Moy to concede another dropout.

With just over twelve minutes to go, Saints did get back into it. A penalty put Saints in enemy territory. The ball was worked out right and Robertson went through a gap to score down the right-hand side.  Despite the on-field call of try, the four-pointer was ruled out for obstruction.

With that set, the visitors moved the other way. They were awarded a penalty and opted for two points. Hardaker converted, 14-26.

With less than nine minutes to go, Saints did have a third try. Robertson kicked the ball low towards the Hull FC in-goal area and won the race to it to score. Hastings missed the kick, 18-28.

With less than four minutes to go, Saints tried shifting the ball to their left edge but Welsby’s pass was deflected forward by Davies into Murphy’s arms.

Hull sealed the win in the final two minutes. Sailor tried a cut-out pass to the middle of the field. Former Saint James Bell intercepted the pass and raced half the length of the field to score. Sezer missed the kick, 18-32.

Those were the final points of the contest. 18-32 Hull FC winning at the BrewDog Stadium.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jacob Douglas, Tristan Sailor, Jakes Davies, Lewis Murphy, Harry Robertson, Jackson Hastings, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Tom Humphreys, Alex Walmsley, Billy Keeley, Shane Wright, Joe Shorrocks.

Interchanges: Jacob Host, George Whitby, Matty Evans, Chris Matagi.

18th Man: Jack Campbell.

Tries: Lewis Murphy (2), Jack Welsby (33), Harry Robertson (73)

Conversions: Jackson Hastings (2 from 3)

Penalties: Jackson Hastings (1 from 1)

Hull FC Team: Logan Moy, Harvey Barron, Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Lewis Martin, Jake Arthur, Aiden Sezer, Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Harvie Hill, Joe Batchelor, Ethan O’Neill, James Bell.

Interchanges: Cade Cust, Yusuf Aydin, Arthur Romano, Max Wood.

18th Man: Hugo Salabio.

Tries: Harvey Barron (8, 40, 47), Lewis Martin (25), Cade Cust (50), James Bell (79)

Conversions: Zak Hardaker (3 from 5), Aiden Sezer (0 from 1)

Penalties: Zak Hardaker (1 from 1)

HT: 14-14

FT: 18-32