Elimination semi-final Hull 20 Saints 24

SAINTS had to draw on their reserves of big match experience, mental toughness and tenacity to overcome a fierce Hull challenge at a cauldron-like Boulevard, but victory was not without its costs on the injury front.

Already struggling for troops - Saints suffered further injury blows when Peter Shiels damaged his cartilage and the gamble of playing David Fairleigh looked to have backfired after he hit the deck after his first attempted tackle on prop Paul Broadbent. Completing the walking wounded in the front row was Keiron Cunningham, who looked to be suffering with his hamstring injury.

Added to this Anthony Stewart was in and out of the blood bin, fellow winger Steve Hall was clobbered by a high shot and left working out what planet he was on - at one stage coach Ian Millward must have been singing 'Four wheels on my wagon'.

The Saints boss said: "It was the most courageous performance I have seen from a group of individuals working very hard for each other. You don't usually see 17 young men dig that deep for each other. It shows the championship quality we have here."

It was a gripping, if scrappy encounter, and Hull played in typical Sean McRae fashion, although they bombed three try scoring chances in the first half.

Saints led 10-6 at the interval despite spending large parts of the half under the cosh due to a great kicking game from Hull's Paul Cooke and Richard Horne. Saints looked to have the game won midway through the second half when they led 20-6, but then they were hit by three tries in 11 minutes which left it on a knife-edge.

The third of those saw Deon Bird touch down following a high kick from Hull's impressive scrum half Horne which prompted referee Bob Connolly to go to the big screen.

The decision time seemed to last an age, adding to the suspense and unleashing a barrage of noise when T.R.Y came up in big letters.

The Humbersiders' tails were up and with home anthem Old Faithful ringing around the ground - Saints seemed there for the taking.

A drop goal attempt by former Saint Steve Prescott went well wide, but Hull still pressed forward.

That Saints were able to overcome that was a testimony to their grit and courage. Physically the visitors were in bits and psychologically all kinds of negative thoughts must have been nagging at the back of the players' heads - most Saints sides from the past would have succumbed. But this crop of players - even the youngest among them - have a mental toughness to see them through the tightest of situations.

Controversially, with the clock showing four minutes left, Saints launched an attack down the left hand flank and Stewart was tackled close to the line by Horne. The crowd roared touch, but the touch-judge's flag stayed down allowing Saints to press on with their set.

Typically, before the six were up Tommy Martyn had made his way over the whitewash to seal the victory for Saints four minutes from time. You need the rub of the green in this game, and Saints have had there fair share against them over the season.

Hull coach and ex-Knowsley Roader McRae paid tribute to Saints' never say die attitude. "You cannot write them off. They are playing Russian Roulette and the bullet has not come out yet," he said.

Clockwatch 16 minutes: Blood-bin substitute John Kirkpatrick opens Saints account with a try two minutes after taking the field. 23 Gareth Raynor try puts Hull 6-4 up. 26: Scott Logan on report for a suspected high tackle on Steve Hall. 29: Paul Sculthorpe powers through for a try, which he converts himself to give Saints a 10-6 lead. 43: Keiron Cunningham bustles his way over for his trademark try from close range. 50: Against the run of play, Tim Jonkers breaks down the right flank to leave the Hull cover ragged. John Stankevitch takes advantage to power over making it 20-6. 57: Tony Grimaldi collects Richard Horne's kick to score. 61: Raynor zips in for his second try of the night.20-16 to Saints. 68: Deon Bird awarded a try by the video ref after following up Horne's kick. 20-20. 76: Tommy Martyn try concludes the scoring, finishing off good work from Stankevitch and Sean Hoppe. 24-20.

How they lined up: Hull: Prescott; Raynor, Bird, Campbell, Crowther; Cooke, Horne; Broadbent, King, Felsch, Maher, Logan, Grimaldi. Substitutes: Craven, Fletcher, Jackson (all used), Parker. Saints: Wellens; Hall, Iro, Hoppe, Stewart; Sculthorpe, Martyn; Shiels, Cunningham, Matautia, Joynt, Stankevitch, Jonkers. Subs: Edmondson, Fairleigh, Kirkpatrick, Cruckshank. (all used)