JONNY Lomax and skipper James Roby provided the spark as Saints fought back from an eight-point deficit to win 34-18 at Hull FC.

Hull FC, desperate for points to stay in touch with the top four, threw plenty at Saints, but Justin Holbrook’s men dug deep and ran away with it at the end thanks to four unanswered tries in a blistering 15-minute spell.

The final score does not tell the full picture; Saints had been given a torrid night but, with Roby leading by example, they passed the test of character with flying colours to confirm they will start the Super 8s in top spot.

Hull started off powerfully, and after some strong running in their first set, the ball was fanned right were full back Ben Barba could do little to prevent Bureta Faraimo from powering over.

It was a nip and tuck game, with both sides getting to the ends of their sets and putting a testing kick. Danny Richardson got plenty of height on his spiral bombs, which aided by Dom Peyroux’s enthusiastic chase often worked in forcing errors.

Saints were soon on level terms, with Barba joining the line to send Tommy Makinson, operating at centre, through a gap.

Hull looked as though they had restored their lead, when Barba lost the ball in the tackle as he cleared the line – but the referee adjudged the ball had been knocked on.

Saints took the lead for the first time when a spilled Richardson bomb had put them in a fine position for Barba to ghost through without a finger being laid upon him.

But just before the break the powerful Faraimo reached high to catch a floated pass to cut the Saints lead to two points at the break.

Hull were again quick out of the traps in the second half, with Jansin Turgut cashing in on a misread on the right for a try.

And when Albert Kelly forced his way over from close range to make it 18-10, Saints had a job on.

When Danny Houghton drilled the ball into touch, it looked like Hull were going to seek to do a containing job on the Saints.

But having been starved of the ball, Saints lifted their game again with Roby producing as good an offload as you will see to put Lomax away. Although that move was halted, the ball came left where Barba was untouchable as he claimed his second try.

Saints suddenly had a toe-hold and struck while the iron was hot, with Roby finding good support from Lomax who did the rest.

Saints’ tails were up with Lomax running from deep to throw two dummies and show good strength on a tackle breaking run to the line.

With Hull chasing the game, Saints cashed in on a loose pass with Richardson sending Adam Swift storming in from 30 metres.

Luke Thompson put the icing on the cake when he hit Lomax’s flat ball to 40 metre effort to surge 40 metres on a diagonal run to try line.

A hard-fought win for Saints, at a tough place to play, but they were cheered enthusiastically throughout by the travelling support.

Hull FC: Hakim Miloudi; Bureta Faraimo, Jake Connor, Carlos Tuimavave, Jack Logan; Albert Kelly, Jordan Abdull; Chris Green, Danny Houghton, Scott Taylor, Jansin Turgut, Mark Minichiello, Dean Hadley.

Subs: Mickey Paea, Jordan Lane, Jack Downs, Masi Matongo.

Saints: Ben Barba; Adam Swift, Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival, Regan Grace; Jonny Lomax, Danny Richardson; Kyle Amor, James Roby, Luke Thompson, Dom Peyroux, Zeb Taia, Jon Wilkin.

Subs: Theo Fages, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Luke Douglas, Morgan Knowles.