THERE were a couple of fine individual displays from young players in Saints' defeat at Hull.

Morgan Knowles grafted hard in the middle, with the 19-year-old making 39 tackles in a 69-minute stint.

Also catching the eye was the big-hitting 20-year-old Jack Ashworth, who put plenty of venom into his tackles.

He halted a try-line bound Gareth Ellis and was rewarded with a score of his own at the other end.

Coach Keiron Cunningham was delighted with the displays of the two youngsters.

He said: "I am big believer in rewarding those kids when they are doing well. Questions were asked when I brought Jack in earlier on and again this week.

"But I am pleased that people are now seeing Jack’s true potential because I see that at training every day.I "I knew Morgan Knowles was a player from seeing him run around at 15, but Jack had a fine pre season and has really kicked on.

"He has been our stand out reserves player.

"I am pleased for the kid but he has got a long way to go, but you find it hard not to pick them when they are doing so well."

A knee injury in 2014 curtailed his appearances and then towards the back end of last year had a fractured ankle, which put him back a little but he has made a big impression in the reserves this term..

"There are lots of pillars which you build your club on, and all of those pillars – he ticks all of them.

"He has everything from humility to pride. He is a good kid and he fights hard.

"He used to work in three jobs and then still come to training and stuff like that doesn’t go unmissed by me as a head coach. The ones with fire in their belly to do well in life," Cunningham.