Saints continue to soar

St Helens confirmed their status as Super League favourites with a comfortable victory over Hull.

The league leaders cracked the Hull defence for the first time when big prop Tony Puletua powered over from dummy-half on nine minutes.

Sean Long, back in the side after a three-match absence, slotted the extras to put an end to Saints' goalkicking troubles of recent weeks.

Three minutes later Saints doubled their advantage when Lee Gilmour stretched over for a try after good work in the build-up from Keiron Cunningham and Leon Pryce.

The one-way traffic continued, with Saints monopolising territory and they added to their tally when Jon Wilkin went in on the left after neat work in the build-up from Pryce.

Hull then enjoyed their best spell of the match and managed a score of their own which came from a home attack.

Intercept

St Helens were spreading the ball across the width of the pitch when Horne nipped in to intercept and raced the full length of the field, holding off Long's chase to touch down.

Danny Tickle's conversion went in off the post but Saints had the last word in the half with Pryce sending Paul Wellens racing through on the left, with Long's conversion making it 22-6 at the interval.

Two minutes after the restart a barnstorming break from Puletua was polished off by the supporting Pryce.

That as good as ended the game as a contest and inevitably the intensity levels dropped after a bruising Easter programme.

Both sides had plenty of opportunities to show their attacking flair, with Willie Manu storming over.

Kyle Eastmond scored with his first touch of the ball from good work from Pryce.

Eastmond then turned provider when he sent youngster Chris Dean in. Wingers Mark Calderwood and Ade Gardner swapped scores, whilst Eastmond and Horne both grabbed their second tries of the afternoon.