Hicks hat-trick downs Hull

Warrington Wolves maintained their flying form with a hard-fought 29-10 victory away at Hull on Easter Monday.

On the back of a home hammering of Salford, Warrington kept up the pressure on Super League pacesetters Wigan by grinding an injury-hit Hull into submission.

Chris Hicks was the main man for the visitors as he scored a hat-trick of tries, with Richie Myler and Michael Monaghan also touching down at the KC Stadium.

While Wolves talisman Lee Briers made a welcome return to action, Hull struggled with injuries and had to play without Sean Long for much of the game as they failed to score in the second half after earlier tries from Craig Hall and Willie Manu.

Richard Horne, Craig Fitzgibbon, Tom Briscoe, Epalahame Lauaki and Danny Tickle were all missing from the Hull team that won their Derby on Friday with Hull KR, and the injuries eventually told.

Briers return

Briers made an early impact as he charged down a Long kick in the second minute and fed Hicks for a try the stand-off converted.

Long sparked the move that got Hull on the scoreboard with a fine pass for Jordan Tansey, who raced clear to set up Hall outside, but that proved Long's last meaningful action as he limped out after struggling on for a few minutes.

It initially did not bother Hull as Shaun Berrigan and Danny Washbrook combined superbly at a scrum - conceded when Richie Mathers dropped a high ball - to create Manu's try.

Richard Whiting added the extras but Warrington were level at 10-10 by half-time as Hicks pulled down a Briers kick to score just inside the touchline.

Warrington took control of the game after the break when Myler finished off a flowing move involving Briers and Chris Bridge to put them ahead again.

High hit

There could also be ramifications after Mark O'Meley appeared to catch Mathers in the face with his hand off the ball.

Warrington put the result beyond doubt when Monaghan found a gap to charge through 10 minutes from time.

Hicks then completed his hat-trick five minutes later after a superb break from Adrian Morley. With Briers adding a drop-goal and converting all three second-half tries, the Wolves victory was assured.