There is no denying that St Helens are in the midst if an uncharacteristic run and they went into today’s game against Hull FC seeking to avoid a sixth consecutive loss, an unwanted record which they last suffered during the 1985-86 season in the pre-summer era.
But with Hull FC having an awful season down the wrong end of the Super League table the bookies had installed the red vee as favourites for the win and handicapped them by eight points on the coupon.
Both sides had a myriad of missing players with injuries recently costing Hull Liam Sutcliffe and King Vuniyayawa, while Saints were without the services of Jonny Lomax and Jack Welsby.
After twenty-one minutes of deadlock, with Hull FC having the edge of position and possession, it was St Helens looked to have taken the lead with Matty Lees crashing through the FC defence and stretching for the line but despite the on-field referee giving a soft signal of try the video referee overruled him as a Hull hand was under the ball.
Saints did hit the front on twenty-six when Lewis Dodd went through the middle off a Robertson break and pass with a twenty-metre run in under the sticks to give Tommy Makinson a simple conversion for a 6-0 lead.
The second Saints try came on thirty-four with a Makinson forward roll seeing the winger ground in the right corner after fast hands across the field proved too fast for the FC defence. Makinson was wide with his touchline conversion attempt, Saints taking their only two real chances of the came to quieten the home crowd.
Inside the opening three minutes of the second half the Saints were in again as Dodd Took a Curtis Sironen inside pass after the second rower had made a thirty-metre break through the heart of the FC defence. Makinson added the conversion and at 16-0 Saints were almost out of sight.
The flood gates were opening in the FC defence when on forty-nine Daryl Clark three two dummies to fox the home defence and score with a scoot from acting half back. Makinson hit the target again for 22-0, Saints up into fourth in the table and their horrible losing run at an end.
Brad Fash was sin-binned on the hour mark for a late hit to further compound Hull’s woes. Two plays after the resulting penalty Matt Whitley took the ball at first receiver and reversed his way over the line before twisting in the tackle and grounding. Makinson hit the target for a fourth time in the game for 28-0, an easy win for the visitors.
Still a man up, Jake Burns scored his first try for Saints on sixty-five as he scooted from acting half back, threw a dummy, and went in by the right upright. Makinson was on target again.
AS the game passed the seventy-minute mark Ignatius Paasi took a Knowles pass as he ran the angle to go in from ten metres. The Makinson goal pushed Saints through the forty-point mark in a comprehensive win.
Burns made it a double on seventy-five as Hull buckled, a Robertson offload seeing the youngster weave his way through the defence for a twenty-metre dash to the line. Makinson kicked his seventh of the game for 46-0.
Two minutes from time Hull avoided the ignominy of being nilled when Jack Walker collected a Jake Trueman grubber to slide over the line from close. Jordan Lane added the conversion for a final score of 6-46.
Saints returned to winning ways with a comprehensive win over a Hull FC side whose woes continue with another heavy defeat. It was a ruthless second half from Wellen's side as they showed no mercy to a struggling Hull side. Saints are back up into fourth in the table and looking to climb higher as some of the super stars return to the top of the table.
Hull FC: Moy, Barron, Tuimavave, Briscoe, Martin, Walker (T), Trueman, Aydin, Smith, Fash (SB on 60), Lane (1/1 G), Chamberlain, Gardiner. Subs: Balmforth, Chan, Laidlaw, Ruan. 18th Man: Jebson.
St Helens: Robertson, Ritson, Blake, Davies, Makinson (T, 7/8 G), Mbye, Dodd (2T), Paasi (T), Clark (T), Lees, Sironen, Whitley (T), Knowles. Subs: Batchelor, Bell, Burns (2T), Stephens. 18th Man: Bennison.
Half-Time: 0-10.
Full-Time: 6-46.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10 :HT: 0-14, 0-16, 0-22, (SB), 0-26, 0-28, 0-32, 0-34, 0-38, 0-40, 0-44, 0-46, 4-46, 6-46 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: St Helens.
Referee: Liam Moore.