With one Hull side safely through to the semi-finals of the 2023 Betfred Challenge Cup the spotlight now fell on the black and white side of the city as they had the toughest of challenges in a game against a St Helens side who are on a great run of good form and heading to the top of the table.
The bookies had given the Airlie Birds a ten-point start on the coupon and were confident that it would be St Helens who would progress through to the semi-finals, but this is the Challenge Cup and anything could happen in a one-off game.
FC were without a concussed Jake Clifford, a big loss in the centre of the field and having a tremendous season, Jake Hoy drafted into the halves with young Davy Litten getting his first game of the season at full back.
A late hit by FC on the Saints kicker Lewis Dodd gifted the visitors early possession inside the Saints twenty but the Hull defence held strong and kept them at bay. On four minutes Tee Ritson went close, down the left-hand side, but again Hull forced the Saints error.
The deadlock was broken on six minutes as Joe Batchelor hit a bullet pass at speed and crashed through a broken defence to score with way too much ease. Tommy Makinson was on target with the conversion, Saints deserving of their 6-0 lead.
Mark Percival was helped from the field on ten after a clumsy tackle from Brad Fash of Hull FC, Saints getting a penalty, and Makinson kicking the two pointer from forty metres out.
From nowhere Hull FC dragged themselves back into the game, Tex Hoy making all the running before finding a delightful inside ball to Josh Griffin to canter home from twenty and score under the sticks. Liam Sutcliffe added the conversion, the gap down to the penalty goal.
On twenty-four the Airlie Birds hit the front when Andre Savelio picked up a Darnell McIntosh tap back and took one step towards the line before diving over. Sutclliffe added the conversion for a four-point lead to the home side after they’d absorbed masses of Saints pressure.
Saints bided their time and on thirty-three they found a way past the Hull defence with fast hands from the centre to the right wing, the final looping pass from Jack Welsby into the hands of Konrad Hurrell who improved the angle. Joe Lussick attempted the conversion, in the absence of Makinson, but pushed the ball wide of the posts. The sides all tied up at 12-12.
Jake Trueman attempted a drop goal with fifteen seconds of the half remaining, but the kick didn’t have the strength to reach the posts, the sides going into the sheds all square. After the hooter Griffin was yellow carded for dissent and as he continued his protest the referee pulled out the red card. FC now in trouble and down to twelve men for the second forty.
Saints took full advantage of the extra man as they regained the lead on forty-five, Curtis Sironen taking the pass and running through two weak tackles to ground in the left corner. Lussick added the conversion for a six-point margin.
A great break by Tee Ritson saw the Sints flying winger to the Hull ten metre line before he was hauled down but a fast play the ball found Dodd at first receiver to carve through the broken defence and score under the sticks. Lussick was on target again and Saints were cruising into the semi-final´s against the twelve men.
Hull FC grabbed another lifeline on sixty-five as they kept the ball alive following a kick to the centre field, which was fumbled by Ritson, Trueman being on hand to take an inside pass and go in from ten metres out. Sutcliffe added the touchline conversion, Hull back within six.
Saints struck straight back, Welsby dancing through the Hull defence, throwing the dummy and dropping over the line for a four pointer. Lussick was wide with the conversion attempt, but Hull had a mountain to climb with nine minutes remaining.
Credit to Hull who didn’t throw in the towel and tried to get themselves back into a game which was already lost. But with three minutes remaining, James Bell took a pinpoint Jonny Lomax pass to hit a gap and run twenty metres to score. Lussick missed the conversion, Saints with a 32-18 win.
A moment of madness on the stroke of half time from Josh Griffin proved the turning point in a game which had been extremely competitive to that point. Arguing with the referee when there was nothing at stake, and with no advantage to be gained, saw the red card brandished and FC put into a major disadvantage for the second forty. Saints took full advantage of the extra man and exploited a Hull defence with aplomb as the Airlie Birds tired.
Saints are into the semi-finals alongside Hull KR and will await the winners of Wigan and Warrington and York and Leigh in the draw.
Hull FC: Litten, Swift, Sutcliffe (3G), Tuimavave, McIntosh, Trueman (T), Hoy, Fash, Houghton, Taylor, Griffin (T, SB on 40, SO on 40), Savelio (T), Cator. Subs: Dwyer, Lane, Sao, Satae. 18th Man: Scott.
St Helens: Welsby (T), Makinson (2G), Hurrell (T), Percival, Ritson, Lomax, Dodd (T), Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Sironen (T), Batchelor (T), Knowles. Subs: Mata’utia, Lussick (2G), Paasi, Bell (T). 18th Man: Bennison.
Half-Time: 12-12.
Full-Time: 32-18.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-8, 4-8, 6-8, 10-8, 12-8, 12-12, (SB), (SO) : HT: 12-16, 12-18, 12-22, 12-24, 16-24, 18-24, 18-28, 18-32 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: St Helens – Hull FC – Square – St Helens.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
