Super League: St Helens seal fifth place with 38-12 victory over Hull
St Helens ran in seven tries during a one-sided 38-12 win over Hull which secured a fifth-placed finish in Super League.
Last Updated: 06/09/13 11:33pm
Barring any unthinkable scores in the remaining games this weekend, Nathan Brown's men - who have won six of their last seven league outings - now appear set for a play-off meeting with Hull KR.
Meanwhile, Hull must wait on other results to see whether their likely clash with Catalan Dragons will be played in England or France.
Things were only ever going to go one way by the Humber as the in-form Saints shone, building up a four-try lead which they took to the break thanks to scores from Jon Wilkin, Josh Jones, Adam Swift and Willie Manu.
Hull would respond through Richard Whiting, but Francis Meli gave Saints an unassailable lead which was added to by Swift again and then Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, while Danny Tickle added a further Hull consolation.
Lifted by the return of hooker James Roby, Saints drew first blood, with Meli racing away and playing in Wilkin on his inside, with Johnny Lomax tagging the extras.
Swift response
Hull responded briefly through Jamie Shaul's run, but Jones made it two tries for Saints after a strong break from Swift.
Three tries were soon on the board as Swift had too much pace for Jason Crookes, while Manu haunted his former employers on the half-time whistle.
Hull needed a quick response and got one at the start of the second half when Jacob Miller sent Whiting in, but a 40-20 from former Black-and-White Jordan Turner put Saints back on the front foot and allowed Meli to squeeze in.
A penalty-ridden spell followed before Swift added his second of the night, taking in Lomax's excellent cross-field kick, with Lomax tagging on to take the score out to 32-6.
Tickle, heading out of Hull to go to Widnes next season, responded from close range before McCarthy-Scarsbrook, a former Hull academy player, rounded things off.