Percival inspires Saints win over Hull

Mark Percival’s man-of-the-match performance and stunning late try sealed a well-deserved 19-12 victory for St Helens over Hull FC in Betfred Super League.

The England centre was in sensational form as he bagged a 14-point haul to send Lee Radford’s side home empty-handed.

Percival crossed just after the break and then, after Hull had fought back to make it 14-12, he shot over for the decisive late score, forcing the ball down in what looked an impossible position and under pressure from three defenders.

Oh Danny Boy @plattyphoto pic.twitter.com/KqSN14djYp

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 7, 2017

Rookie scrum-half Danny Richardson, stepping in for the injured Matty Smith, landed a late drop-goal to put the cherry on the cake.

The win could have been more comfortable if Saints had converted pressure into points during a dominant first half. Lock Morgan Knowles went close on two occasions, his first effort chalked off for offside by the television match official after Hull’s Jamie Shaul had coughed up the ball from a Richardson kick.

The second was a powerful charge from the Saints back-rower that inched them close to the line but he could not force the ball over.

.@TFages enjoyed that one! #saintsasone pic.twitter.com/s4svjXMHXS

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 7, 2017

Saints boss Justin Holbrook praised Percival's performance, saying: “The finishing was unbelievable. He’s a classy player and he produces some freakish things. We really missed him last week. For Percy to do that, especially in those conditions, was impressive.

“I’m definitely happy with that. It was a real important win for us."

Radford says his side were second best to the Saints in the third leg of the Steve Prescott Cup https://t.co/Q8HIPIyF0q pic.twitter.com/QCQD8zTr7H

— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) July 7, 2017

Lee Radford added: “It is difficult to win game when you are second best in energy and execution departments. I’ve not been in too many games where you are second best in those departments and you win the game.

“If we would have won the game tonight it would have been like us doing a bank job on them, without a balaclava. It was down to mindset."