Hull 34

Saints 28 SAINTS' hopes of finishing in the top three and avoiding the sudden-death part of the play-offs were dealt two hammer blows at the Boulevard on Saturday.

The season-threatening Achilles tear sustained by centre Paul Newlove who, prior to the 30th minute incident, had been punching holes in the Hull defence, was bad enough.

But Saints' subsequent tossing away of a game they had in the bag after half-an-hour, now gives the Humbersiders the advantage in the jostling for positions at the top of Super League.

To put the ludicrously lop-sided fixture list into context, Hull now play only two top five sides in their last 11 games compared to Saints' five against the competition's cream.

For the second week running Saints slipped to defeat despite outscoring their opponents on the try count. Once again the lack of an established kicker proved costly, with stand-in Paul Sculthorpe managing to convert only two out of seven stabs at goal.

In contrast, former Saint Steve Prescott, who had a superb all-round game, slotted home seven out of eight to leave his boss - fellow former Knowsley Roader Shaun McRae - grinning from ear to ear.

The loss, through family reasons, of inspirational heavyweight Aussie duo Peter Shiels and expectant father David Fairleigh left a big hole in Saints' armoury. They sorely missed the no-nonsense hard yards of Fairleigh, and to make matters worse hooker Keiron Cunningham did not look 100 per cent and was not his usual explosive self from dummy half.

Despite that, Saints seemed to be coasting after getting off to a dream start when Newlove characteristically sniffed out an interception to scoot 85 metres up field in the opening minute.

Sculthorpe crossed from close range to stretch the lead before Saints conceded a soft try when Tony Grimaldi held off Sonny Nickle's challenge to go over.

Tommy Martyn, in his first game since April's Challenge Cup Final, was a little ring rusty. But he still showed his deadly touch close to the opponents' line, evading the desperate attempts of Hull prop Luke Felsh to race 20 metres for the first of his brace of tries on 27 minutes.

At 16-8 that should have put Hull to sleep, but the home side clawed themselves level at the interval aided by a 10-3 penalty count, courtesy of referee Stuart Cummins.

Home substitute scrum-half Paul Cooke streaked over two minutes before half-time, then added a second four minutes after the restart to put McRae's men in front for the first time.

Hull's tails were up and when ex-England prop Paul Broadbent got his hands on a bobbling grubber from the outstanding Jason Smith, Saints were unbelievably looking at a 28-16 deficit after 48 minutes.

But Saints are the comeback kings and when Kevin Iro crossed eight minutes later, following good work by Sean Hoppe, the pendulum looked to be swinging back.

Entering the final quarter Saints were dealt a double blow when first, Sculthorpe failed to hold a John Stankevitch off-load barely inches from the line. Then, within a minute, a speculative downfield punt by Richard Horne took a bizarre bounce infield then held up in-goal for fresh-legged substitute David Maiden to race 60 metres to score with his first touch of the game.

That should have been curtains for Saints, but late tries from Steve Hall and Martyn's 100th for the club, set up a thrilling finale.

But it was not to be with Saints making the long trek back across the M62 with no points and one of their most effective strike players joining Sean Long on the sidelines. These are testing times for Ian Millward's men and if they are to make it three Super League trophies in a row they are going to have to do it the hard way.

Saints' best hope of a top three finish now appears to rest on two massive four-pointers against Wigan - and resisting the challenge of clubs with nothing else to play for bar the chance to lower the colours of the World Club Champions.

With key men dropping down like flies, Saints have a mountain to climb. But if any side can pull it off from here - Saints can. How they lined up: Hull FC: Prescott; C. Smith, Campbell, Bird, Raynor; T. Smith, Horne; Craven, Grimaldi, Felsch, Carvell, Logan, J. Smith. Subs: Cooke for T. Smith (22) Broadbent for Craven (33) Maiden for Craven (60) T. Smith for Horne (70), Crowther,

Saints: Wellens; Stewart, Iro, Newlove, Sullivan; Sculthorpe, Martyn; Nickle, Cunningham, Matautia, Joynt, Hoppe, Stankevitch. Subs: Edmondson for Matautia (blood bin 4, reversed on 6) and (BB 16 reversed 33), Hall for Newlove (30), Jonkers for Nickle (33), Nickle for Matautia (51), Edmondson for Stankevitch (63), Higham for Cunningham (61), Stankevitch for Hoppe (76).