Hull FC tame Wildcats
Hull FC won a pulsating contest 42-24 against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats to strengthen their hold on fourth place in the engage Super League.
By Graeme Mair
Last Updated: 17/08/07 11:13pm
Hull FC won a pulsating contest 42-24 against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Belle Vue to strengthen their hold on fourth place in the engage Super League.
The Wildcats scored three tries to lead 24-16 at half-time, but ran out of steam after the break as their indiscipline finally proved costly.
Danny Tickle and Gareth Raynor touched down early in the second-half as Hull regained the lead, but the decisive moments came in the 67th minute when Wakefield duo Olivier Elima and Adam Watene were both sent to the sin-bin for separate indiscretions.
Hull took full advantage of their two extra men with tries from Matthew Head, Richard Whiting and Motu Tony in the space of six minutes, although the final 18-point margin of victory was harsh on Wakefield.
Manu bags opening try
The visitors scored the opening try on five minutes when Jason Demetriou's telegraphed pass was picked off by Willie Manu, allowing the Tongan international to race untouched to the line from deep inside his own half.
But any momentum gained from that early score was lost in the ninth minute when Richard Horne was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul.
A flowing Wakefield move was ended when Horne prevented a quick play-of-the-ball, referee Phil Bentham immediately reaching for his yellow card, something that became a familiar sight as the evening progressed.
Jamie Rooney slotted the subsequent penalty to reduce the deficit to 6-2 and, after Hull immediately re-opened their six-point lead through a Tickle penalty, the hosts got their opening try.
It was the simplest of scores, the ball being worked quickly through four pairs of hands to give Ryan Atkins a short-range finish in the left-corner.
The roles were reversed in the 22nd minute - Wakefield's Ricky Dibey being sent to the sin-bin and Hull exploiting the extra man to put Craig Hall over in the right-corner for their second try. Tickle added the extras for a 14-8 lead.
The game continued to flow from end-to-end, Demetriou powering over for Wakefield's second try in the 26th minute after Elima had created the opening by slipping away from one tackle and then offloading out of a second. Rooney's conversion levelled the scores at 14-14.
Rooney's purple patch
An exchange of penalties made it 16-16, before Wakefield took control with an eight-point burst prior to the break. Rooney's third penalty from 40 metres gave them the lead for the first time in the 33rd minute, and he followed up with a try five minutes later.
Ben Jeffries made the initial break before releasing Rooney for an unopposed run to the line, the conversion putting Wakefield 24-16 ahead at half-time.
With some harsh words from coach Peter Sharp ringing in their ears, Hull went straight on the offensive at the start of the second-half.
The video referee ruled that Kirk Yeaman had failed to ground the ball in the left corner following Head's kick ahead, but moments later Tickle made no mistake.
Horne's grubber kick bounced kindly for Tickle to crash over in the right corner in the 45th minute, this time the video referee confirmed the score and the conversion brought the visitors' within two points at 24-22.
Hull showcased strong defensive qualities while pinned deep in their own half, before breaking out to regain the lead in the 55th minute with their fourth try.
Horne and Head drew in the Wakefield defence, creating space for left-wing Raynor to swoop over in the corner. Hull entered the final quarter with a 26-24 lead after Tickle failed with the touchline conversion, the first missed goal-kick of the evening.
Indiscipline
Wakefield's forwards had lived on the fringes of the law throughout the fast-paced match, and in the final 15 minutes it caught up with them.
Elima was sent to the sin-bin in the 67th minute for taking Raynor out after the referee's whistle, while Watene joined him moments later for a late shot on Paul King.
That opened the floodgates for Hull to put some gloss on the final scoreline with Head, Whiting and Tony all touching down after being given the freedom of Belle Vue by Wakefield's remaining 11 men.
The result allows Hull to open a three-point gap on fifth-placed Wakefield in the engage Super League table.
