St Helens crush Hull FC to end losing run

Betfred Super League

Hull FC (0) 6

Tries: Walker Goals: Lane

St Helens (10) 46

Tries: Dodd 2, Makinson, Clark, Whitley, Burns 2, Paasi Goals: Makinson 7

St Helens ended their worst-ever Super League losing streak and boosted their play-off hopes with an eight-try win over Hull.

Lewis Dodd put the Saints, who had lost five matches in a row, ahead before Tommy Makinson’s 186th career try elevated him to seventh in Super League’s all-time list, and made it 10-0 at half-time.

Dodd’s second try and Daryl Clark extended the lead before Matt Whitley crossed after Brad Fash was sent to the bin.

Agnatius Paasi and Burns heaped more misery on Hull, who avoided a fourth shutout of the season through Jack Walker’s late score.

The result saw Saints regain the Steve Prescott Cup, played in honour of the late St Helens and Hull full-back, with a 102-6 aggregate score this season.

It also moved them up to fourth, with a four-point buffer in the play-off spots, while Hull remain 11th after a 17th league defeat of the season.

Simon Grix’s bow as Hull interim head coach in April had brought a chastening 58-0 drubbing to Saints in the reverse fixture, but Saturday’s match-up looked likely to be closer.

The Black and Whites had lit up a miserable season with wins over Leeds and defending champions Wigan in recent weeks, while injury-ravaged Saints arrived after a 48-4 humbling by Leigh.

Paul Wellens’ side looked anxious in a scoreless opening quarter, but never looked back once Clark’s break allowed Harry Robinson to give Dodd a clear run to the line in the 26th minute.

The confidence flowed as the Saints upped the intensity against fading opponents, as slick handling created an overlap on Hull’s left edge for Makinson to dive in.

In the absence of banned skipper Jonny Lomax, Morgan Knowles returned to lead the Saints, who took out their recent frustrations on the Airlie Birds with a rampant second-half display.

Fragile defence allowed Curtis Sironen to burst through on halfway and tee up Dodd for another run-in just two minutes after the break, and Clark soon muscled his way through some tired tackles for his 99th career try.

At 22-0 down, Hull’s task grew tougher still when Fash became their 14th sin-binning of the season, for a late hit on James Bell, and seconds later Whitley dragged two tacklers over the line for try number five.

Burns cashed in with a simple show and go for his first Super League try, on his second senior appearance, and Knowles then created space for Paasi to power his way through.

There was still time for Burns to race through for a second, following Robertson’s super offload, giving Makinson a seventh conversion.

For their early attacking flare and intent, Hull rarely threatened the Saints line but at least avoided a shutout when Walker collected Jake Trueman’s grubber kick.

Hull FC interim head coach Simon Grix told BBC Radio Humberside:

“It was a tough one today. To collapse the way we did was very disappointing.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out some of the reasons behind it – a lot of young boys out there today.

“We took some steps backwards but there’s lots of context and reasons around it. It still hurts though.

“There’s lots of lessons of how to get better there and needing to get better for all of us.”

St Helens head coach Paul Wellens told BBC Radio Merseyside:

“I’m happy. The way the lads handled today was really good. Hull and ourselves are missing a large number of players and we performed in difficult circumstances.

“I don’t really get too caught up in completion rates but we’re above 90% today with the ball.

“Rugby is a simple game. If you don’t make too many errors you give yourself a good chance.”

Hull FC: Moy; Barron, Tuimavave, Briscoe, Martin; Walker, Trueman; Aydin, Smith, Fash, Lane, Chamberlain, Gardiner.

Interchanges: Balmforth, Chan, Laidlaw, Ruan.

Sin-bin: Fash (59)

St Helens: Robertson; Makinson, Blake, Davies, Ritson; Mbye, Dodd; Lees, Clark, Paasi, Whitley, Sironen, Knowles.

Interchanges: Batchelor, Bell, Burns, Stephens.

Referee: Liam Moore.