Hull FC 6-23 Warrington: Wolves win league leaders' shield
Last Updated: 24/09/16 3:38pm
Warrington avenged their Challenge Cup final defeat to Hull FC with a 23-6 win at the KCOM Stadium to clinch the league leaders' shield.
Two tries in the opening 13 minutes from former Airlie Bird Tom Lineham and Kevin Penny gave the Wolves a 10-0 half-time lead, but Carlos Tuimavave's touchdown shortly after the restart gave Hull hope.
However, 11 points from the boot of Declan Patton put the game beyond Hull and Tom Lineham crossed for a second try with five minutes remaining to seal victory.
Warrington will have home advantage against St Helens in next weekend's Super League semi-finals while Hull must regroup ahead of a trip to Wigan.
Matty Russell, who was a constant threat from full-back, came up with the first clean break of the match, and the supporting Ratchford put in a perfectly weighted kick to the corner for Lineham to open the scoring on his first appearance for two months.
Six minutes later left winger Kevin Penny took a pass from second rower Jack Hughes to double the Wolves score after Rhys Evans made a break down the left.
Patton was unable to convert the tries but he increased his side's lead to 10-0 on 15 minutes with a penalty.
Hull's hopes were further hit when inspirational captain Gareth Ellis was forced off with a head injury but he was able to return 14 minutes before half-time following a concussion assessment and he went closest to scoring for the home side in the first half when he was held up on his back a minute before the break.
It was a sure sign of the Black and Whites finally getting their act together and they drew first blood in the second half when stand-off Carlos Tuimavave sliced through a hole in the visitors' defence to score their first try.
Marc Sneyd's conversion made it 10-6 and Hull ought to have been at least level when full-back Jamie Shaul broke clear from deep inside his own half but, with men in support, opted to pass to prop Scott Taylor instead of backing himself and Lineham brought the big man down five metres short of the line.
Warrington made the most of the escape, extending their lead with two more penalties, and they had a chance to go further ahead with Shaul hauling Lineham down inches short at the corner.
Patton strengthened the Wolves' grip with a third penalty before Lineham pounced on a Hull handling error to kick ahead and gether himself to score his second try.
Patton then put the finishing touches on the win with a drop goal with two minutes remaining.
