WHILE two important Super League points are at stake, the mood of the occasion was captured early by both sets of players warming up in T-shirts sporting on the reverse the number one and Steve Prescott's name.

The legendary Saints and Hull full back may no longer be with us, but the man, his career and battle for life will never be forgotten.

It was fitting that, as at Langtree Park in February for the first leg of the inaugural Steve Prescott Cup, his sons Taylor and Koby were mascots and his brother Neil delivered the match ball to the kicking tee - all three arriving on the field ceremoniously to a standing ovation.

'Only one Steve Prescott," roared out from the Saints fans congregated in the North Stand and around the KC Stadium during one minute's celebratory applause and it made for an emotional prelude to the rip roaring 40 minutes of action.

Saints went into the game with three changes from the win at Widnes, with Jordan Turner joining Gary Wheeler in the halves in place of Luke Walsh, Josh Jones starting in the centres and Luke Thompson coming in on the bench.

And they settled quickly.

Danny Houghton's forward pass on halfway allowed Saints to apply pressure that was doubled when a Mark Flanagan grubbed forced six more tackles.

Some swift handling to the right allowed Tommy Makinson to cut inside for the opening try, converted by Mark Percival, after four minutes.

Saints were unable to capitalise on further time spent in Hull's half and the Airlie Birds grew from that.

From successive penalties for offside at a scrum and then obstruction, Hull went from one end to the other and registered their opening try through Richard Horne, with Joe Westerman converting to level things up after 19 minutes.

Hull were starting to get on top, highlighted by the metres their forwards were making down the middle.

Makinson and Wellens both produced try-saving tackles as Saints hung on gustily.

But they continued to be on the back foot and Tom Lineham burrowed over from dummy half in the 36th minute to put his side ahead for the first time, with Westerman again converting.