1. Phew! What a game and how badly rugby league needed a contest as enthralling as that to get the focus back on pitch matters after the release of that appalling Tomkins video the evening before.

Although it would have given the home fans a few less palpitations had it been a Saints romp, the way that the redoubtable cup fighters Hull FC battled to retain their crown for a third year is what made it such a gripping encounter.

It was definitely the pick of the weekend’s quarter finals.

It was no surprise to hear Justin Holbrook’s first reaction to sum up his first thought afterwards was one of relief. To have a few players a little off the pace, but still go through shows that Saints have something running through them, too, this year.

2. Hull’s pack is pretty renowned, and it was something Justin Holbrook spoke about in press in the week.

Much had been made of the Hull absences – and they did still have a couple out – but they nevertheless fielded a strong side spearheaded by that big, ferocious pack.

The Black and Whites did play it close to the edge at times – and paid the price for that with three sin-binnings.

Essentially Saints racked up that winning lead while they were 13 v 11 for the 10 minutes before the break.

3. All three sin-binnings – the crusher on Danny Richardson by Danny Houghton, the knee from Danny Washbrook on Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and the off the ball on Jonny Lomax by Masimbaashe Matongo – were all appeared to be delayed reactions from the officials, rather than on the field calls. That said, as has been pointed out by one of our readers, the touch judge did come on for two of those.

It is hard to argue against any of them, but once again it shows that calls in a game are different in televised games as opposed to those not on the box.

On top of that there was also one incident which was milked by the Hull wing after being slightly nudged.

4. A few weeks ago there was a bit of chatter about whether Regan Grace needed a rest, with Adam Swift returning from injury.

He had not done anything particularly wrong, but it is the way sport goes when the benchmark is set so high and you have options waiting in the wings.

On Sunday Grace showed his value to the team with his blistering pace yielding two smartly-finished tries and a couple of searing breaks.

Nothing pleases the crowd more than a flying wing – and that is what we have in the young Welshman and it is pleasing that he is now getting more service to show that.

In recent weeks Grace has been tested with the high kick to the corner, but they have found no weak link there. He is clearly still learning – but the best place for him to continue that education is out there on the flanks.

5. Ben Barba was noticeably a little subdued yesterday. After his sparkling start to the year, he is probably entitled to an offish day, especially given he’d pulled up the week before at Cas. Credit to Hull – they did do a good job on him – but while that was going on, the flip side was that it allowed Danny Richardson, Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival that little bit more room.

6. And finally how good was it to hear the sing-off between both sets of fans…. Oh When the Saints versus Old Faithfull in the bellowing competition.

That was as loud as the home support has been since the days of the Scaff at Knowsley Road – and they certainly did their bit to drive the team home.

For too long the atmosphere at home games was flat and quiet – but it just goes to show, give them something to cheer and the fans will respond.