SAINTS have lost 28-20 at home to Hull FC after a lacklustre performance at Langtree Park.

The game was locked at 20-20 going into the closing stages, but a long range try from Jamie Shaul was enough to snatch the spoils and condemn Saints to a third defeat on the bounce.

The injury-hit champions, who were in the wars again on Good Friday losing Joe Greenwood and Paul Wellens, started with two teenage debutants in their three-quarters – Ricky Bailey and Jack Ashworth - and Hull sensed that there were some seams to pick at.

However coach Keiron Cunningham was adamant after the game that it was  more senior players who were at fault for this loss.

After the demands of Good Friday there was an understandable flatness about the place - on and off the pitch.

And it was Hull, stung after their own derby loss on Thursday, who seemed to want it more.

The visitors took an early lead after forcing a repeat set from a fumbled high kick and then another from offside on the line.

That pressure finally told when Joe Westerman and Leon Pryce created the space for Jamie Shaul to slip through.

Jordan Rankin added the extras to make it 6-0.

Hull continued to press and a pair of repeat sets from kicks – followed by a penalty put the visitors back in the hunt for another score.

But this raid ended with an offside from the last tackle kick – which again targeted the wing of debutant Ricky Bailey.

Saints responded with a good half break from James Roby with the next play, but the offload was knocked on by the finger tips of supporting prop Kyle Amor.

A Saints penalty from a high tackle gave a goodh platform and from there nice work from Lance Hohaia and Roby created the chance for Tommy Makinson to step through.

Makinson tagged on the conversion to level the match.

And Saints were soon back for more and this time a neat short pass from Jordan Turner sent Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook crashing over the try line with Makinson adding the goal

A pair of Hull penalties gave them a great position to have another crack at the line and wing Curtis Naughton just managed to get the ball down despite tackle of Bailey to cut the deficit to 12-10 on 24 minutes.

Saints very nearly hit right back with fresh-legged Alex Walmsley hacking on a Hull dropped ball to drop on it for a try, only for the in-goal touch judge to rule a knock on in the build up.

Saints piled on the pressure in thre closing ten minutes of the first half, with a penalty and then a pair of repeat sets from a drop out and charge down giving them time on the Hull line.

But that came to nought when high kick caught in goal and off Hull went upfield and they very nearly profited from a high kick left which was allowed to bounce before Bailey knocked dead.

Saints cleared the pressure and a long raking touch-finding kick from Roby pinned the visitors back in their own half to take a 12-10 lead in at the break

Saints made a tactical switch at the break, with youngster Bailey withdrawn and the backline re-shuffled.

Hull tookthe lead eight minutes after the restart when former Saint Leon Pryce made a telling intervention, attacking the line and getting the ball down despite the two-man tackle.

Rankin’s goal made it 16-12 to the visitors.

Saints almost hit back immediately with a great break by Roby carving open the Hull defence, and although that play was foiled on the line they were soon back for more.

And from a penalty on 54 minutes Turner, playing against his former club, showed some determination in driving over the line, scoring by the posts. Makinson improved to put Saints 18-16 ahead.

At this stage they let the game drift with some poor game management, with some aimless last tackle kicking giving the Humbersiders a turn with the ball.

Hull forced an error when Dawson was adjudged to have knocked on a high Pryce kick. From there the the visitors piled on the pressure and that finally told when a floated wide, suspiciously forward, pass sent Fetuli Talanoa over out wide on 66 minutes.

Rankin missed the goal but Hull had a two-point lead and looked determined to defend it.

A high tackle from Hull allowed Makinson to level from 30 metres with a penalty nine minutes from time, but with gaps on the pitch it was never going to stay like that.

A high kick was caught and returned quickly by Swift and Saints were back on the front foot, but a fumble by Ashworth on the half way turned the ball over and Hull countered ruthlessly.

Shaul showing a great turn of pace and nimble footwork, found open space in the middle and he was then able to turn Makinson inside out to run in from half way.

To compound Saints’ misery the restart kick went out on the full. Hull worked their way down field with Rankin slotting another penalty to make the game safe with three minutes to play.

Although Saints did not get the rub of the green with some calls, they can only have themselves to blame fotr the way they let this game drift.

Alarm bells will not be ringing, given the players due an imminent return, but a huge improvement is required from some to stop this run spreading to another one or two matches given Huddersfield and Leeds are on the horizon.