KEIRON Cunningham helped write the perfect script for his testimonial match by bustling his way over for trademark try from dummy half in a scrappy, yet entertaining encounter.

The robust hooker came on late in the first half, crossing ten minutes after the break when he rumbled over through a heap of bodies to give Saints a commanding 22-6 lead in a match that helped blast off the final cobwebs ahead of Super League X.

Although Hull did claw their way back into the game with tries from Kirk Yeaman and Shaun Briscoe, a smartly-taken score from the nimble-footed James Roby ensured that home fans left in a happy mood.

And although Johnny Vegas' short cameo appearance after official full time probably captured a lot of the headlines, it was fellow Thatto Heather Cunningham that the 6,000 strong crowd wanted to pay tribute to.

Cunningham has been one of the backbones of Saints' success during the glory years, and on his day those sharp, strong bursts from dummy half and pin-point distribution are still a major asset to the side.

But he has not had the best of fortunes since he turned his back on a deal to play rugby union in 2001, with each and every subsequent season plagued by injury and loss of fitness.

And this year - his 11th season at the club - Saints' longest serving player will have to fight tooth and nail to keep his role as number one hooker with his understudy breathing down his neck for more starts at nine.

Mickey Higham, who has completed his apprenticeship under the master, has been buoyed by his first full Great Britain international call-up in the autumn and has a string of admirers across Super League.

The 24-year-old Leyther scrambled his way over for an opportunistic first half try, which was a just reward for the sharp way he operated before making way for the star of the show.

Disjointed

There were few other pointers from this frequently disjointed encounter, apart from the continued impressive development of youngsters James Graham, Ian Hardman and Roby.

Those fans who turned up for a first glimpse of new signing Jamie Lyon went away none the wiser, the Aussie test centre received little ball and had a subdued game in many respects.

Saints' other tries came from Mike Bennett and Paul Sculthorpe, with Gareth Raynor also crossing for Hull.

Saints: Wellens, Gardner, Lyon, Albert, Feaunati; Wilkin, Roby; Fozzard, Higham, Anderson, Bennett, Graham, Sculthorpe. Subs: Cunningham, Hardman, Viane, Edmondson, Forber, Clough, Matty Smith, Vegas.

Hull: Briscoe: Blacklock, Yeaman, Horne, Raynor; Whiting, Horne; Higgins, Swain, Carvell, Chester, McMenemy, Cooke. Subs: Wheeldon, Brough, Dixon, Hill, Barnett, Thackeray, Lupton