In a re-run of last season's Grand Final Hull continued their steady improvement this season with a fine victory over St Helens at the KC Stadium.

Daniel Anderson's Saints side - 46-0 victors on this ground a year ago - claimed the Super League crown in 2006 with a 26-4 win over Peter Sharp's men at Old Trafford.

Since then the Saints have gone on to claim the World Club Championship, while Hull - through a combination of poor form and injuries to key players - have struggled and only posted their first win of the season last weekend.

However, some outstanding defence and a much-improved offensive performance allowed Sharp's men to take the points and consign the champions to their third defeat this campaign.

Of equal significance to Sharp will be the performance of 19-year-old half-back Thomas Lee.

Hull have struggled for creativity all season in the absence of injured playmaker Paul Cooke but Lee's performance, most notably the setting up of second half tries for Kirk Yeaman and Shaun Briscoe, was one to behold.

With captain Paul Sculthorpe making a second comeback of the season from injury off the bench the visitors began shyly and struggled to find any early rhythm.

Two Danny Tickle penalties saw them slip four points behind while promisingly for Hull the kicking game of Richard Horne and Lee was much improved on what it has been.

James Graham, courtesy of a short pass from Leon Pryce, was able to barge over for the game's opening try after 20 minutes and although Steve Tyrer's conversion put St Helens ahead, the first half belonged to the home side.

Sharp instructed his side to kick their close-range penalties for goal while, typically, opposite number Daniel Anderson encouraged his men to run the ball.

However, their flamboyance soon became their downfall as Matt Gidley and Ade Gardner combined to waste an opportunity on the right with Hull lacking in defensive number.

Also of note was the performance of Hull's pack, which despite missing Great Britain international Garreth Carvell through injury, outplayed St Helens forward six. Hutch Maiava, seemingly putting his early season woes behind him, was a key contributor.

Hull then posted their first try, a sublime effort from Sid Domic, which allowed them to go in 10-6 ahead at the break.

Domic and wing partner Matt Sing combined superbly down the right and Sing, courtesy of a superb one-handed pickup, was able to send Domic charging over the line.

Tickle converted from out wide and slotted another goal after the restart courtesy of another penalty.

Then, with Leon Pryce sent to the sin bin for holding down Yeaman, Hull struck with two tries in quick succession to secure the win.

First, Lee's bullet pass allowed Shaun Briscoe to send Yeaman thundering over the line for his first try of a so far barren season, before Lee slipped through the Saints line and held the ball for long enough to allow the onrushing Briscoe to dive over to the left of the posts.

Lee Gilmour - the unfortunate second party in an incident that saw Richard Swain out cold for a short time - then nearly sparked a comeback only to be held up by Wayne Godwin just short of the line, although a further Tickle penalty had already nosed Hull 18 points ahead.

The ever-willing Paul Wellens posted a consolation for the visitors but it was to no avail.