Saints slump to Hull
St Helens' early-season struggles continued as they were beaten 22-10 by Hull at Langtree Park.
Last Updated: 12/03/12 8:23pm
St Helens' early-season struggles continued as they were beaten 22-10 by Hull at Langtree Park.
The perennial Grand Finalists have now gone four games without a win after appearing to be in control at 10-4 ahead against the Black and Whites.
But the game turned when Jordan Turner raced the length of the field from a sloppy Josh Perry pass and the visitors pulled clear to win.
Three Danny Tickle penalties had more or less clinched it for Hull before Wade McKinnon touched down a Richard Horne grubber to send the Saints fans in the 14,875 crowd home unhappy.
Saints got off to a sloppy start when the Hull kick-off was left by Lee Gaskell and bounced through the fingers of a surprised Tony Puletua to gift the visitors a period of early pressure.
Hull forced a repeat set from a smart kick from Brett Seymour, but the home defence stood firm.
Saints took play downfield and had an early chance to open their account when Jonny Lomax dabbed through a fine attacking grubber, which just evaded the grasp of the supporting prop Anthony Laffranchi.
Both sides tested each other out with long raking kicks on both sides making both teams bring the ball from deep.
The game remained scoreless until the 22nd minute when, after Tickle had been penalised for a heavy challenge on Sia Soliola, Saints made their good position tell.
The ball was flashed right, with Lomax, Lance Hohaia and Michael Shenton releasing wing Ade Gardner who had two men to beat on the line, but went head first to touch the ball down.
Jamie Foster, back in the side after being dropped last week, just drifted his touchline conversion attempt to the left of the uprights.
Hull hit back on the half-hour mark when a sizzling solo effort from full-back McKinnon left the Saints defence clutching thin air on his dummying and stepping run to the line.
Tickle missed the conversion and there was no further score with the teams going in level at the break.
Saints were first on the scoresheet six minutes after the restart when Tony Puletua dummied and turned to stretch over for a try goaled by Foster.
Snapped up
Saints seemed to have the game in control and were playing a patient brand of football until Perry's attempted flick pass went to ground and was snapped up by speedster Turner, who raced 80 metres to touch down.
Tickle's touchline conversion just about scraped over and then 15 minutes from time he gave Hull the lead for the first time when he slotted a 30-metre penalty to make it 12-10.
Hull had the game by the scruff of the neck, and forced another repeat through a smart kick. The pressure told and Saints gave away another penalty within Tickle's range to put the visitors four points up with 10 minutes to play.
And Tickle's boot made the game safe with another penalty - this time for obstruction - four minutes from time.
The game was already sewn up when McKinnon added the final touch.
