Ouch!published at 49 mins

49 mins

St Helens 23-12 Hull

A painful blow in the nose for Jonny Lomax. Followed by a more worrying incident still as Danny Houghton suffers a head blow in the tackle.

He receives extended treatment but then comes off, presumably rather reluctantly.

Close call for Hull as Saints miss a big opportunity set up by Regan Grace's pace down the left and a missed kick but the ball is then spilled over the line by Zeb Taia, but it's ruled out by video referee James Child.

Hull then get a penalty upfield. A real chance. But they get shut out again and it's another handover for Saints.

Slightly less frantic start to the second half. Both sides still getting their breath back and their tempers under control?

Back under way for the second half. Hull have a tall order.

It was hard enough at kick-off. It'll be even harder now on a hot day on Merseyside coming from behind against the league leaders.

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Hull try scorer Albert Kelly told BBC Sport:

"We've got to move on quickly. It's a quick game and it's very, very hot.

"We were down two players but we did pretty well and we're still in it."

St Helens forward Jon Wilkin told BBC Sport:

"We started very well with the ball in hand. Unfortunately we gave Hull a few attacking sets near our line.

"We got our stuff back in order and undoubtedly the yellow cards have helped us out."

The half-time hooter sounds at the Totally Wicked Stadium and St Helens have a firm grasp on this game.

Can Hull FC work their way back into it?

Image source, SWPix

Danny Richardson nails a drop goal attempt to add the extra point on the verge of half-time to make Hull's task a little bit harder when the second half gets under way.

Danny Houghton returns to the pitch. Danny Washbrook now follows too.

Tempers are still strained out there.

But was it indiscipline by the two Black and Whites forwards or overzealous refereeing that led to the binning of the two Dannies?

A great interception by Carlos Tuimavave halts Saints' first wave against the 11 men. But then Grace goes clear down the left.

Mark Prendergast: Ben Thaler has lost the plot and control of a game. Not for the first time

Christian I'Anson: Shocking refereeing. No way was Washbrook a sin bin!

Rich: Fantastic officiating. Making the right call in tough conditions

Cameron Stuart: Bad, bad calls by Thaler there! Can’t believe he’s let LMS off with that!! Potentially spoilt a very good cup tie and contest

Hull down to 11 men!!!

More ill feeling as Danny Washbrook's knee appears to make contact with Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook's face.

Looked like there were two sides to that argument.

A big call from referee Ben Thaler.

Hull still lead narrowly approaching the break and who would have called that after those two quick opening St Helens tries?

But it's a test of that now as they are reduced to 12 men by Danny Houghton's 'dangerous' high tackle.

Rodney Rowe: Good response. Powerful try

Daniel Fowler: Barba and Richardson been getting the headlines but Jonny Lomax is in the form of his life. Belting pass to Grace.

CarlR: Actually glad that FC are making a game of this. Still hope they lose

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales international on BBC Two

One thing you can't do with Hull is allow them possession inside your own 20 metres.

They're a big powerful side who are difficult to stop. From out of the game in the opening 20 minutes, they are now in front.

Do we have another try? Chris Green thinks he's got over.