Hull FC 24-24 St Helens

Correspondent

A Kirk Yeaman hat-trick secured Hull FC a draw against St Helens in a pulsating clash at the KC Stadium.

It was Yeaman who opened the scoring on nine minutes after Tom Armstrong failed to catch a Richard Horne kick. The resulting possession enabled Yeaman to cross after a great offload from Willie Manu. Tom Briscoe then went on to score a superb try after firstly stealing the ball from Soliola and then making a break a couple of tackles later to touch down under the posts.

St Helens had a chance shortly after with Jamie Foster going in at the corner but Steve Ganson adjudged the final pass from Francis Meli to have gone forward.

Yeaman then scored a contender for try of the season on the half hour mark. Aussie half back Sam Obst chipped through superbly, gathered the ball and offloaded to Lauaki, before the ball was spread wide to Yeaman who touched down in the corner. Danny Tickle added the extras from the corner, his conversion hitting the post in the process to give Hull an 18-0 lead.

Saints had the final say of the first half with Foster scoring in the corner after a terrific break from Nathan Ashe. Foster missed the conversion attempt which saw Saints trail 18-4 at half time.

It was St Helens that started the second half the brighter with Meli forcing a St Helens scrum after a kick through which Whiting gathered whilst having a foot in touch. From the resulting scrum, Roby picked the ball up from the loose forward position and touched down for a try.

With Saints in the ascendancy, they forced Hull FC offside after the Black & Whites made a mess of a high kick, Willie Manu adjuged to have gathered the ball from an offside position. A lovely offload by Eastmond from the resulting penalty allowed the space for Ade Gardner to touch down out wide. Foster added the extras to put Saints just two points behind at 18-16.

Saints extended their lead after a superb 40/20 kick by John Wilkin gave the visitors prime field position. After a couple of drives forward, Tony Puletua gathered the ball and stretched out his arm to score under the sticks, giving Saints the lead for the first time in the match.

Hull came back fighting shortly after with Manu touching down after Foster failed to gather a kick, although it was denied by the video referee who adjudged a knock on by Richard Horne.

Hull Made the pressure pay with six minutes remaining with Yeaman grabbing his hat-trick after a superb break by Horne. Tickle added the extras to put Hull back in the lead 24-22.

There was yet more drama from the resulting kick off after Saints forced a drop out after Will Sharp failed to gather. The Hull drop out caught the wind and Referee Steve Ganson ruled Washbrook to have tackled Ashe in the air whilst contesting for the ball. Foster opted for the two points from the resulting penalty to level the match at 24-24.

Danny Tickle and Kyle Eastmond both attempted drop goals late on but this superb game of rugby league was to end in a draw with both sides taking a point each. 

Hull FC

Whiting, Sharp, Gleeson, Yeaman, Briscoe, Horne, Obst, O’Meley, Houghton, Moa, Manu, Tickle, Fitzgibbon

Subs: Washbrook, Westerman, Dowes, Lauaki

Tries: Yeaman (3), Briscoe
Goals: Tickle (4)

St Helens

Armstong, Gardner, Shenton, Meli, Foster, Wilkin, Eastmond, Graham, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Ashurst, Soliola, Puletua

Subs: Magennis, Dixon, Perry, Ashe

Tries: Foster, Roby, Gardner, Puletua
Goals: Foster (4)