Jack Welsby helps St Helens outclass 12-man Hull in appalling conditions

St Helens extended their unbeaten start to the Super League season with a comfortable victory against a Hull FC side who played almost an hour with 12 men after the dismissal of their captain, Luke Gale.

The reigning champions were far too good for the home side in a game played in appalling conditions, though their cause was helped by the dismissal of Gale midway through the first half after a dangerous challenge on Jonny Lomax. Hull have had a man sent off in their opening two games and while they were good enough to grind out a win at Wakefield last week after Jake Connor was shown a red card, they were outclassed by Saints.

The visitors played the numerical advantage and the horrific conditions to perfection. By half-time, they had crafted an unassailable 20-0 lead courtesy of two tries from Josh Simm, another from Mark Percival and four goals from the boot of Tommy Makinson.

Hull offered little in response even before Gale was sent off when he made contact with Lomax’s leg with his boot and they struggled even more when their captain and chief playmaker left the field.

The outstanding Jack Welsby had a hand in all three of the visitors’ tries in the first half and the 20-year-old scored their fourth try shortly after the restart with a wonderful piece of individual play. Welsby caught the defence off-guard and kicked through before grounding just ahead of Jamie Shaul to give Makinson the simplest of conversions to make it 26-0.

Josh Griffin capitalised on a rare Welsby error to touch down, but the game soon shifted back in the direction of Saints. They extended their lead further when Sione Mata’utia barged his way through a tiring defensive line before Lewis Dodd rounded off another impressive performance and