Super League: Hull FC stay top after win over Warrington
Last Updated: 10/06/16 10:58pm
Hull went four points clear of Warrington in the Super League standings after a 19-12 win over the Wolves on Friday night.
It was an immensely scrappy game that failed to deliver on the skill level that was promised by the top two teams in the league, but definitely brought the expected excitement.
First-half tries from Fetuli Talanoa and Mark Minichiello put Hull 12-10 up at half-time after Gene Ormsby and Chris Sandow scored for the home side. Kurt Gidley then levelled things with a penalty on the hour mark, before a Gareth Ellis try and Marc Sneyd drop goal sealed the win for Lee Radford's men.
The win keeps Hull at the top of the Super League standings, two points ahead of second-place Wigan who beat Hull KR 20-18 on Friday, and four points ahead of Friday's opponents who have now drop to third.
The first half offered up more than its fair share of handling errors. Hull contributed the most, and one such handling error brought about the opening try.
Sandow kicked ahead and chased well to put pressure on Jamie Shaul who tried to run the ball out. Sandow tackled Shaul and the ball spilled out in the tackle for Ormsby to dive on top of it for the first score of the night.
Despite the troubled start Hull then moved the ball up the field and worked the ball left in the 14th minute to Talanoa, who saw the space and darted for the tryline in the corner. From out wide Sneyd converted for a 6-4 lead to the visitors.
Benjamin Jullien then charged down a kick from Sneyd and collected the ball before tearing up the field. Jullien drew the last of the defence and passed to Sandow in support, with Sandow running in the try in the corner. Gidley added the extras from the touchline.
Hull had the final say of the half, when from a goal line drop out the ball was passed to Mark Minichiello down the left, and Minichiello pinned his ears for the corner before stepping inside Ratchford for his side's second try. The conversion from Sneyd made it 12-10 to Hull at the break.
Neither side was able to register any points in the third period as the handling worsened in the 20 minutes that followed after the resumption, and when Gareth Ellis stripped the ball in a tackle in his own half at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Gidley called for the kicking tee. Gidley slotted the effort to bring his side level.
Hull then worked the ball up from the scrum with ten minutes remaining before Sneyd held the defence up well to pop to Ellis who ran a good line. Ellis spun through the attempted tackle and crashed over under the poles.
It was a very finish for Hull, who saw Carlos Tuimavave send a drop goal attempt wide, before Sneyd secured victory with his effort with just over two minutes remaining.
