Meli inspires Saints

St Helens stand four points clear atop the Super League table after a Francis Meli hat-trick helped them to a 31-20 victory against Hull.

The defending champions had appeared on course for a more comfortable evening before a late try from Graeme Horne caused Knowsley Road hearts to flutter.

But Meli's third try late on finally put the result beyond doubt, Saints' other try scorers being Paul Clough, Ade Gardner and Sean Long - the latter also gaining valuable points with the boot.

Hull may have been seeking their fifth successive win but, without six first-team regulars, they were always going to be up against it facing the league leaders.

Nevertheless, Saints found the Hull defence hard work early on, with a chip from Long over Motu Tony seeing the latter charge the ball down and clear.

With second-rower Lee Gilmour departing the field clutching his jaw after a tackle from Richard Whiting, Hull took the lead at the mid-way point of the opening half.

Willie Manu inspired the score, the forward breaking deep into opposing territory before a deft pass found Tony, who touched down under the posts.

But Saints hit back in some style, with three tries being scored in only six minutes.

And it was Long who provided the inspiration, the half-back touching down the first after making an angled run to the left-hand corner.

Clough subsequently scored a close-range effort, with Saints' third coming following a Tony fumble in front of his posts - Jon Wilkin collecting the ball and, via Matt Gidley, Gardner crossed over.

Long kicked the extras, with Danny Tickle narrowing the gap slightly with a penalty after 34 minutes.

However, a high tackle by Matt Head - halting what looked to be a second Gardner try - saw him sin-binned two minutes before the interval.

Long's penalty made the half-time score 16-8, with Tickle's second effort cancelling it out early in the second period.

Head returned from his enforced absence, but Saints again turned on the flair when Meli rounded off a deftly-handled move by taking the final pass from Willie Talau in the left-hand corner.

Long this time missed the target but soon made amends with another penalty to hand St Helens a 10-point lead.

Hull again ate into the advantage when Matt Sing scored on the hour, but more Long penalties placed Saints two tries ahead.

Meli's second - again in the left-hand corner - then appeared to place them firmly in control of the match, a situation made more apparent with another successful Long penalty.

But Horne then charged down Richard Whiting's kick to score for Hull, and with Tickle converting from the touchline, St Helens faced a tight finish.

However, Long eased the pressure slightly with a drop goal three minutes from time, before Meli's hat-trick sealed the win.

St Helens (16) 31.
Tries: Long, Clough, Gardner, Meli 3. Goals: Long 3.
Drop Goals: Long.
Hull (8) 20.
Tries: Tony, Sing, G. Horne. Goals: Tickle 4.
Att: 10,005