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SEAN Long enjoyed a fairytale return to Knowsley Road as he masterminded a 32-12 over Saints at the GPW Recruitment Stadium.

He was involved in both of Hull’s first half tries, before notching one of his own, as Saints lost on their first outing of the Super League season.

Saints were 12-0 down at half time with the game more about the fog than open attacking rugby league.

Visibility was virtually zero and that meant plenty of kicks to the corner from both sides and chances aplenty.

Hull seemed to deal with the conditions better than the Saints though, and that gave them a deserved lead with tries from Willie Manu and Epalahame Lauaki.

In the second half, Sean Long scored against his former club before Tom Briscoe sealed the win from within his own half.

Saints fielded an expected 17 with Paul Clough taking a spot on the bench ahead of Bryn Hargreaves.

Jordan Turner was left out for Hull, who played Richard Horne and Sean Long for the first time in anger.

Saints had the better of the opening exchanges and, within the first minute, Jon Wilkin opened up play with an excellent break to feed Kyle Eastmond. The ball then went left but unfortunately it went to ground.

On Saints’ second break, three minutes in, they forced a drop out following an Eastmond chip.

But after two straight penalties Saints were right on the line. The ball went left, through Leon Pryce and to Ade Gardner, but the winger who was later taken off with a rib injury, was bundled into touch a metre short.

11 minutes in, Eastmond tried a chip to the corner.

Hull put pressure on Saints line two minutes later, with a grubber into the mist which was well fielded by Gary Wheeler.

Wilkin attempted something similar 17 minutes in, but Jordan Tansey was up to the task.

Kicks in the fog were proving to be the prime attacking opportunity, Long trying a chip through just after Eastmond’s flip into the air.

But on 26 minutes, Willie Manu run on to a Sean Long ball and he showed his strength to go over. Fitzgibbon’s run creating the gap. Tickle with the extras.

And with moments to go before the hooter, Epalahame Lauaki also used his power and strength to plunge over. Tickle with the conversion.

And as the hooter went, Roby broke through but Yeaman’s tackle knocked it out of the grasp of Scott Moore as he looked set to go over.

Half Time: Saints 0 Hull FC 12

Sia Soliola failed to return for the second half – an ankle injury ruling him out of match.

Tickle added a penalty five minutes in and then Sean Long notched a great try by supporting an explosive break down the middle. Tickle taking the lead to 20.

Saints nearly hit back seconds later – Graham held up over the line after a strong run – but Hull’s defence continued to stand strong.

Briscoe added another from within his own half to stretch the lead further.

In the final quarter of the game, Jordan Tansey was sinbinned for lying on, and from the penalty, Matt Gidley looked to have gone over. The video referee giving him the benefit of the doubt and Eastmond converting from short.

Flannery added pulled Saints closer with ten to go, Eastmond converting, but it was too little too late.

And that was underlined when a kick through from Long took a deflection and Yeaman cleaned up.

Match Summary:

Saints:

Tries: Gidley, Flannery

Goals: Eastmond (2 from 2)

Hull FC:

Tries: Manu, Lauaki, Long, Briscoe, Yeaman

Goals: Tickle (5 from 5), Fitzgibbon (1 from 1)

Penalties:

Saints: 9

Hull FC: 9

HT (Sts First): 0-12

FT (Sts First): 12-32

REF: Ben Thaler

ATT: 12142

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Sia Soliola, 21. Gary Wheeler; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Kyle Eastmond; 10. James Graham, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 8. Nick Fozzard, 11. Tony Puletua, 13, Chris Flannery, 12, Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 16. Scott Moore, 17. Paul Clough, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu.

Hull FC:

1. Jordan Tansey; 24. Craig Hall, 21. Richard Whiting, 4. Kirk Yeaman, 3. Tom Briscoe; 6. Richard Horne, 7. Sean Long; 10. Mark O’Meley, 9. Shaun Berrigan, 11. Lee Radford, 16. Willie Manu, 12. Danny Tickle, 13. Craig Fitzgibbon.

Subs: 8. Ewan Dowes, 15. Epalahame Lauaki, 17. Peter Cusack, 20. Danny Houghton.

Stourbridge Saint says:
Wow !!.........Just back from the game.... I always ...like many I suppose....had reservations that letting a quality player like Longy go for the sake of an extra season on a contract.....but I couldn't believe the way we gave up ground (and perhaps the ghost in the fog !)...I have to stretch my mind back over the years to remember such an inept performance....even the beatings from Leeds and Wi*a! didn't seem so depressing as this ???? Leon Pryce was atrocious in my opinion .....and a percentage of the others just disappeared in the mist......I didn't enjoy Longy's try celebration....I think ...dare I say he could take...for once a leaf out of footballers books on their return to their previous clubs and celebrate in a more humble/reserved way rather than rubbing our noses in it ....after all it wasn't the fans that got rid of him......Sorry if I sound bitter !!!!!

ovalball13 says:
I would say that Saints were completely outclassed tonight from 1 to 17(except Graham). Tough times ahead Potter. Most of the time saints could not string two passes together, this is not the type of rugby that we are accustomed to,Saints used to be called the entertainers, now they are just very boring to watch.

Bernie Wharton says:
time to invest in quality - class showed through tonight - we looked tired and not interested.

gill says:
Dont mind loosin better team won. but why was match played when fans could not see across both touchlines???

bec says:
What can i say,nothing much to be honest. I sit in the main stand and you couldn't see the other half of the stadium! we could hardly see the first half ! What i did notice is that when ever it came to the 5th tackle we would play the ball ( this would be near their line ) and pass it to Kyle Eastmond and he would kick it the exactly the same place,over to the right towards ade gardner ! what is wrong with Gary Wheeler he is on the pitch to play ,whats the point having him there if you dont kick to the other side! If i noticed that then i am sure the Hull FC players, coaching staff did ! they could read like a book ! But i will continue going to the matches ,of course, but i heard people saying, 'oo well saints won't do much this season they have lost longy they can't do well without longy ! they have just lost their 1st match of the season' well so what ! Leeds lost agaist castleford this week didnt they ! You have to lose one game and this hopefully is the game we lost !!! C'mon Saints We Can Get All Of Our Titles Back !!!!!!!!!!

JOHN CALLON says:
i know its early to criticise but as hull had a massive pack and bench why did we leave out hargreaves and pick moore. they had 3 big forwards on bench and we had one

jeannie hullfc fan says:
brilliant match really enjoyed it, but I was disgusted with the boos that some of the "so called saints fans " gave to sean long, you're not true saints fans, he's been a loyal servant to st helens and certainly did not deserve that

elaine says:
Where is the off the cuff rugby that we used to play its one man rugby now not much attack and very little defenence.

Denton says:
I totaly agree with jeannie hullfc fan