Hull get back on track

Todd Byrne scored two tries as Hull breathed life into their Super League campaign with an 18-8 victory over Wakefield.

Byrne crossed early in each half, helping the Black and Whites to establish an 8-0 lead and then restoring that winning margin after Wakefield had fought back before half time.

The Australian benefitted from some fine work from compatriot Adam Dykes, while Danny Tickle's strong kicking helped Hull to earn only their second win in six matches this season.

Both clubs have had their injury problems in the early stages of the campaign and Wakefield, who got back into the game when Dale Ferguson touched down, suffered a further blow when Danny Sculthorpe damaged his left hand.

Danny Brough's conversion and subsequent penalty enabled them to level the match, but they missed Sculthorpe's influence when he failed to emerge for the second half.

Latu red card

After Byrne had scored his second try, John Kear's men laboured without success to fight back for a second time and their challenge was ended when Tevita Leo-Latu was shown the red card for a head-high tackle on Dykes.

Tickle's penalty from right in front of the sticks gave Hull a 10-point lead with only four minutes remaining and they held on despite more pressure from the visitors.

Hull were orchestrated superbly by scrum-half Dykes, but it was Paul King who set the tone for their performance with a thunderous hit on Kevin Henderson that won possession shortly before Byrne opened the scoring in the third minute.

On the back of King's tackle, Hull won two penalties and marched their way to

the Wakefield line where a neat pass from Shaun Berrigan allowed Byrne to brush his way past the Wakefield cover and notch his first Hull try.

Tickle added the goal and a penalty 10 minutes later, but aside from the points, it was the manner of Hull's play that caught the eye as Dykes in particular looked a potent menace to Wakefield's tender defence.

With that considered, it was something of a surprise but of enormous credit to Wakefield that they went in level at the break.

Mayhem

When Brough was afforded the room to kick he duly obliged with a couple of tasty bombs that caused mayhem in the Hull defence, a trait that was still evident when 19-year-old Ferguson crashed over in the 23rd minute.

It looked as though there was little danger when the Hull defence wrapped Sculthorpe up close to the line, but somehow the prop found his way out of the tackle and fed Ferguson who nipped in to score.

Brough converted and slotted a penalty on 32 minutes as the Wildcats settled, although Hull were not without chances as it took a fine tackle from Duncan MacGillivray to stop Danny Houghton as the hooker weaved through.

The interval saved Hull from losing their grip on the game, but Brough ensured the pressure was maintained after the restart.

He nearly created a try for Shaun Gleeson with a kick that bamboozled Gareth Raynor and saw his short pass nearly send Adam Watene crashing in.

But it was Hull that edged in front, against the run of play too although Dykes' assist for Byrne's second try was worthy of the score.

He ran at the defence before standing a deft kick up for Byrne who fought for the ball and eventually grounded.

The score seemed to deflate Wakefield, who were set further back by a Tickle penalty, the first of six awarded against the visitors in succession, ensuring they enjoyed little field possession as the game entered a crucial period.

Any hope they did have of a late fightback then ended when Leo-Latu saw red for a nasty looking hit on Dykes, before Tickle's subsequent fifth goal brought the scoring to an end.