You'll never win at Wembley is a regular taunt, but – leading 12-10 with less than a quarter of the Carnegie Challenge Cup final remaining – Hull were on course to make it seventh time lucky.

St Helens, though, aren't top of engage Super League and unbeaten in the Challenge Cup since 2005 for no reason and they came out on top 28-16.

Cruising for most of the final, in the face of Hull's stirring fightback they stepped up a gear and three tries in the final 15 minutes secured their third successive cup triumph.

This was never going to be a final for neutrals.

Hull had got away with fielding an ineligible player in two earlier rounds while the referee was from St Helens – a situation which wouldn't have happened in any other mainstream sport.

The nightmare scenario would have been for Hull's Jamie Thackray, who played in rounds four and five despite signing after the transfer deadline, to grab a crucial try, or for Steve Ganson to award Saints a controversial winning score.

Fortunately for the competition's credibility, Thackray didn't make a significant impact and Ganson had a fair game, sharing out the 12 penalties.

With second-from-bottom in Super League playing top, pre-match expectations were low and for the opening 40 the final lived down to its billing, but a thrilling second period saved the day.

Hull centre Kirk Yeaman crossed twice – a long-range interception from a Keiron Cunningham pass then a strong finish off good handling by Richard Horne and Willie Manu – and Danny Tickle converted both to turn a 10-0 interval deficit into a two-point lead.

Saints responded through Francis Meli and Jon Wilkin, who showed great presence of mind to charge down and pick up from Danny Washbrook's clearing kick.

Gareth Raynor cut the gap to a converted score with six minutes left, but Leon Pryce replied almost immediately and Sean Long's fourth conversion completed the scoring.

Earlier, Matt Gidley had gone over from close range, Meli raced clear from a 20-metre tap and Willie Talau and Meli both had touchdowns ruled out, as Long did in the second half.

Saints are now threatening to dominate the Challenge Cup in the manner of Wigan in the late 1980s and early 90s.

Leeds spoiled their hopes of a second successive double last season and – with the league leaders' shield still up for grabs – Rhinos will be hoping Saints spend the week partying before Friday's derby against Wigan.

However, Saints boss Daniel Anderson said his players would celebrate for 24 hours, but be back in training today.

"We are determined to participate at the end of the year, vigorously," he said.

"We have changed our preparations for the play-offs. We're going to Madrid for a couple of days and we'll try and do something different, because we got pole-axed last year in the Grand Final."

Saints full-back Paul Wellens was named Lance Todd man of the match but loose-forward Paul Sculthorpe suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder just two minutes into what could be his final game for the club.

HULL: Byrne, Sing, G Horne, Yeaman, Raynor, Washbrook, Lee, Dowes, Berrigan, Cusack, Manu, Tickle, Radford. Subs (all used) R Horne, Carvell, Briscoe, Thackray.

ST HELENS: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Hargreaves, Cunningham, Graham, Wilkin, Flannery, Sculthorpe. Subs (all used) Gilmour, Roby, Clough, Fa'asavalu.

REFEREE: Steve Ganson (St Helens)