Plenty of effort, but not enough quality.
Hull FC forward Brad Fash on his 200th club appearance. (Image: SW PIX)
In many ways, Hull FC’s performance against St Helens mirrored a lot of the last 15 months. They showed loads of spirit and played with plenty of grit, and their effort to fight and stay in the battle is unquestionable, but ultimately, it’s skill, shape, and execution that were their downfall.
Hull – playing their first game since the news was confirmed that John Cartwright will leave the club at ‘the end of the season’ – had the chances to win the game, a contest they deservedly led at half-time, but they couldn’t kick on, and Saints took advantage, showing their class to win 24-14 at the MKM Stadium on Thursday night.
Hull, with ten out to injury, did it tough again. They lost Sam Lisone to an arm injury in the first half, but they continued to roll up their sleeves. Their effort and scramble were good, and they dug in, but unfortunately, they made too many good ball errors – and that, ultimately, was their undoing.
It should be pointed out that Paul Rowley’s Saints are also understrength after a crazy injury-hit period – but they now top the Super League table for 24 hours at least – a remarkable feat given the hand they have been dealt. They had their moment of class in their locker, and it came through Tristan Sailor, the out-of-contract Aussie maverick, who produced some big plays from the full-back position. That was enough to sink Hull, despite the best efforts from Logan Moy, who was superb on the night, scoring one try and saving another with a last-ditch tackle on a runaway Sailor.
Back in action after a week off, the Black and Whites made three personnel changes following the derby, with Harry Newman, on an original one-week loan from the Leeds Rhinos, making his club debut at centre. Yusuf Aydin and Brad Fash – who made his 200th appearance for the club – also returned from injury, with John Asiata, Joe Batchelor, and Arthur Romano dropping out due to injury.
Saints were also understrength in what felt like a battle of two old A-Teams, but it was Hull’s injury-hit outfit that got on the front foot and started well. Led by James Bell at loose forward and Aidan Sezer at half-back, they looked to move the ball – and they got their reward. They kicked early in the set and scored through Davy Litten, and on the next play, a blindside move saw Hardaker superbly offload for Moy to open the scoring.
Hull could have extended that lead, but Saints held firm. The away side then struck at the other end, with young back-row forward Jake Davies running a strong line to burst through the Hull defence and level the scores.
But the game then swung again, and Hull retook the lead they deserved, with Amir Bourouh burrowing over from close range. That was about it for the first half, with both sides losing one player each to an HIA after a nasty coming together, with Newman and Davies leaving the field for their routine checks. Newman passed.
Saints then thought they were going to level again, but Hardaker, in the right centre after starting the game at left back row, produced a last-ditch tackle to keep the visitors at bay and reaffirmed his ability to keep on ageing like a fine red wine – and ensured Hull took a deserved lead at the break.
However, it was St Helens that started the second half, the stronger of the two sides. They got into Hull’s half, and on the back of a six again, they levelled the scores as Noah Stephens burst through a tackle to power over the line. The two sides then traded penalty goals, with Saints taking the lead for the first half and then Hull levelling the scores less than five minutes later.
That set up a tasty final quarter, and it was Saints who hit the front – and on the set following a Hull error in good ball. A silky kick from Sailor was met by Kyle Feldt, who touched down out wide. Sailor then converted from the touchline, ensuring a six-point cushion.
Sailor then broke midfield and looked to round Moy, but the young Hull full-back stood his ground and forced an error with a superb try-saving tackle. That kept Hull in the game, but sadly, it just denied the inevitable, with FC – poor in their ball retention at times – coughing up possession again and Saints scoring through Harry Robertson, who picked up a loose ball to score.
Hull regained possession after a short kick-off, but they split the ball again, and that was that. A spirited account, but one that, to win games at this level, ultimately wasn’t good enough.
Teams
Hull Starting XIII: 24. Logan Moy; 19. Tom Briscoe, 37. Harry Newman, 3. Davy Litten, 5. Lewis Martin; 14. Cade Cust. 7. Aidan Sezer; 10. Harvie Hill, 9. Amir Bourouh, 18. Ligi Sao; 22. Connor Bailey, 4. Zak Hardaker; 15. James Bell
Interchange: 16. Sam Lisone, 20. Yusuf Aydin, 23. Brad Fash, 25. Matty Laidlaw. 18th Man: 32. Lloyd Kemp
St Helens Starting XIII: 6. Tristan Sailor; 2. Kyle Feldt, 5. Deon Cross, 3. Harry Robertson, 24. Owen Dagnall; 17. George Whitby, 31. Jackson Hastings; 10. Matty Lees, 9. Daryl Clark, 13. David Klemmer; 16. Matt Whitley, 28. Jake Davies; 22. Joe Shorrocks.
Interchange: 8. Alex Walmsley, 15. George Delaney, 21. Noah Stephens, 30. Tom Humphreys. 18th Man: 34. Cole Marsh
Scorers
Hull Tries: Moy, Bourouh. Goals: Hardaker 3/3
St Helens Tries: Davies, Stephens, Feldt, Robertson. Goals: Sailor 4/5
Scoring System: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6, HT, 12-12, 12-14, 14-14, 14-20, 14-24
Referee: Liam Moore. Video Referee: Tom Grant
Attendance: 12,148