DEPOSED Hull FC coach John Cartwright said the support of his players had made him a “blubbering mess” earlier in the week – and at times tonight it had him punching the air.
With NRL CEO Andrew Abdo in the stands after meeting Super League and the RFL earlier in the day about a proposed investment, the Airlie Birds and St Helens staged an engrossing pitched battle at MKM Stadium.
Winger Kyle Feldt’s 62nd minute try from Tristan Sailor’s kick into the left corner looked like proving the difference in a 20-14 win for the visitors, extending their run of wins over Hull to six matches.
The Harry Robertson iced it for Paul Rowley’s side when Zak Hardaker couldn’t take a pass at the back.
When football manager Richie Myler was shown on the big screen in the first half, there were loud boos – a response to the sacking of Cartwright.
In his first game for the black and whites, Leeds loanee Harry Newman suffered a broken nose.
ST HELENS 24 (Davies Stephens Feldt Robertson tries Sailor 4 goals) beat HULL FC 14 (Moy Bouroh tries Hardaker 3 goals) at MKM Stadium. Crowd: 12,148
Teams:
HULL FC: Logan Moy; Tom Briscoe, Harry Newman, Davy Litten, Lewis Martin; Cade Cust, Aiden Sezer; Harvie Hill, Amir Burouh, Liga Sao, Connor Bailey, Zak Hardaker, James Bell. Res: Yusef Aydin, Brad Fash, Matty Laidlaw, Sam Lisone.
SAINTS: Tristan Sailor; Kyle Flanagan, Harry Robertson, Deon Cross, Owen Dagnall; Jackson Hastings, George Whitby; George Delaney, Daryl Clark, David Klemmer, Matt Whitley, Jake Davies, Jake Shorrocks. Res: Alex Walmsley, Matty Lees, Noah Stephens, Tom Humphreys.
Referee: Liam Moore.