Tom Makinson's late-minute penalty earned St Helens a share of the spoils in an 18-all draw against Hull FC at the KC Stadium.
It was the second time in two weeks the Black and Whites suffered late heartache following their defeat to city rivals KR in the Magic Weekend in Manchester.
A robust defensive performance by St Helenslooked to be sending them home victorious after tries for Adam Swift, Lance Hohaia and Jon Wilkin, but Danny Tickle's late try and penalty gave Hull a narrow lead following scores for Richard Whiting and Richard Horne. Leading for the first time with just minute remaining, Hull thought they had done enough until a penalty award with 90 seconds remaining handed their visitors a chance to level the scores.
There was nothing to split the sides in the opening quarter with both defences forcing errors from their opponents and in the torrential rain it seemed as though chances would be at a premium.
Then, following a penalty award in their favour within sight of the Hull try line, St Helens took full advantage when Hohaia's long pass out wide found young winger Swift. With a clear path to the try line Swift took his chance and by the time Hull had chance to question the holes in their defence, Hohaia had crossed for Saints' second try of the match.
Defensive resolve had given way to attacking prowess and next it was Hull's chance to impress, Whiting finishing a flowing move out wide orchestrated by half-backs Brett Seymour and Richard Horne.
Whiting's score swung the territorial advantage in Hull's favour, but importantly it was St Helens who maintained their advantage on the scoreboard at the interval, helped by a terrific defensive display to keep out a string of Hull players.
Having shipped 42 points against great rivals Wigan Warriors at the Magic Weekend Saints had spent the week working on their defence and had it to thank for withstanding a barrage of Hull attacks in the second half.
Following five repeat sets within sight of the Saints' try line, Hull did eventually find a way through thanks to Horne's scrappy score, but buoyed by their defensive heroics Saints soon restored their six-point advantage when Hull-born forward Wilkin popped up on the end of a Jonny Lomax pass to score.
Hull were dictating proceedings though and while their opponents had snatched a try against the run of play, the hosts soon continued their assault on the St Helens try line.
Led by England Knights hooker Danny Houghton, Hull threw everything at St Helens once again and were level when Danny Tickle converted his own try in the corner to set up a grandstand finish.
Saints' ill-discipline then handed Tickle a chance to convert a penalty which gave Hull the lead for the first time as the clock ticked down to a tense conclusion.
With the agony of their last-minute derby defeat to Hull KR still fresh in the memory, Hull's defence frantically scrambled for every tackle, then with a 90 seconds left on the clock Saints were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Makinson converted to make sure the sides shared the spoils for the second successive season at the KC Stadium.