A late Matt Dufty try caused heartbreak for the Black & Whites at the MKM Stadium, going down 18-24 to Warrington in a nail-biting clash on Saturday.
The Black & Whites fought back to draw the scores level at 18 a-piece with ten minutes to play having trailed by twelve points mid-way through the second-half.
But after Hull scores through Denive Balmforth, Liam Sutcliffe and Tom Briscoe, Dufty’s score two minutes from the hooter secured the points for the visitors, despite FC’s valiant efforts.
Team News
Simon Grix made just one change to the side that beat Leeds last Saturday.
Tiaki Chan dropped out of the matchday squad, replaced by Will Gardiner.
Danny Houghton, Joe Cator, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Nick Staveley and Cobie Wainhouse all remained sidelined through injury.
The Match
Both sides started the game positively, trading set for set and completing them well. The visitors had the first real opportunity after five minutes however, with Toby King the beneficiary of a cutout ball to score in the corner. Thewlis added the extras.
Hull nearly hit back immediately through Tom Briscoe who dived for the line in the right corner, but was couldn’t ground the ball and had to leave the field for a HIA.
Warrington then stormed down field and, with the help of a penalty, had the home side under pressure before a knock on from try scorer King brought an end to the threat.
FC were quickly back on the front foot though. A teasing kick from Trueman forced Matty Ashton to knock the ball behind for a drop out. Hull couldn’t forge a path through on the next set but immediately got the ball back ten metres out thanks to Dufty slipping into touch. An error from the Black and Whites saw that good spell come to an end.
Hull FC managed to continue to build pressure on the Wolves over the next ten minutes, including having three straight sets on the Warrington line once more. However, no one could find a way over leaving Warrington with a slender lead after the first quarter.
The visitors looked to be in for a certain try after 25 minutes, with a break in the middle of the pitch. However, Jack Ashworth came out of nowhere to intercept the pass back inside and regain possession for Hull.
FC were helped up field by a penalty and once more had Warrington camped on their own line. Tuimavave went close for the home side but couldn’t make the good field position count.
The visitors were reduced to 12 on the half hour mark with Adam Holroyd shown a yellow card, and Hull nearly made the extra man count immediately. However, Tom Briscoe was adjudged to have knocked on in the act of scoring.
Against the run of play, Sam Burgess’ side extended their lead. A lovely offload to Matt Dufty saw him break down the middle of the pitch and dip in and out of multiple tackles to score. Thewlis successfully converted the try.
Half-Time: Hull FC 0-12 Warrington Wolves
Warrington had an immediate opportunity after the break. An error saw Adam Holroyd with some clean air in front of him, but a lovely ankle tap from Jordan Lane saw the chance come to an end. The Wolves looked dangerous on their next set too, but Matt Dufty knocked the ball on and handed possession back to the Black and Whites.
Against the run of play, Hull did have the opening try of the half. Denive Balmforth intercepted a wayward pass and had the legs to run 60 metres and score. Ben Reynolds knocked over the extras.
The Wolves had a quick reply however. Danny Walker took in a short ball and dived over for a try next to the posts. Thewlis converted the try. Walker thought he had back to back tries, but the second was ruled out for a forward pass.
A penalty for an interference at the play the ball helped Hull charge down field and turn defence into attack. The ball was moved from right to left and Lewis Martin was metres away from scoring Hull’s second of the afternoon.
It didn’t take long for FC to get back down to the Warrington tryline. Dufty failed to deal with Reynolds kick and conceded the drop out. Reynolds looked to put a kick over the top to Martin but Thewlis beat the Hull man to it.
However, the pressure finally told with Liam Sutcliffe quickest to react to a kick early in the set to score Hull’s second of the afternoon on the hour mark. Reynolds converted the try. Trueman’s kick put more pressure on Warrington on the 65th minute, but Tai beat Martin to the ball.
FC had another fantastic chance a few minutes later, with Tuimavave chasing down Reynolds’ kick and pressuring the Wolves into another drop out. Trueman’s kick over the top looked to be taken well by Ashton but he knocked on, handing Hull the ball back and the home side made it count. Straight from the scrum, the ball was shipped out to Tom Briscoe who scored in the corner. Reynolds brought Hull back level with the kick.
FC nearly took the lead straight after. Fash had the ball on the last and put in a kick for Moy but the Wolves won possession back.
Warrington nearly had the game won with four minutes on the clock. Dufty broke and his offload back inside would have sent the Wolves over for the winning try but the ball instead went to ground.
The Wolves did win it with two minutes to go though. Dufty reacted quickest to the loose ball after FC charged down the drop goal attempt from Drinkwater and managed to score in the corner. Thewlis’ kick went in off the post.
Full Time: Hull FC 18-24 Warrington Wolves
The Squads
Hull FC: Logan Moy, Tom Briscoe, Carlos Tuimavave, Liam Sutcliffe, Lewis Martin, Jake Trueman, Ben Reynolds, Herman Ese’ese, Morgan Smith, Yusuf Aydin, Cam Scott, Jordan Lane, Ligi Sao.
Interchanges: Brad Fash, Jack Ashworth, Will Gardiner, Denive Balmforth.
18th Man: Davy Litten
Warrington Wolves: Matt Dufty, Josh Thewlis, Toby King, Rodrick Tai, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Josh Drinkwater, James Harrison, Danny Walker, Paul Vaughan, Matty Nicholson, Adam Holroyd, Ben Currie.
Interchanges: Zane Musgrove, Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Max Wood.
18th Man: Tom Whitehead.
The Scorers
Hull FC Tries: Balmforth (45), Sutcliffe (60), Briscoe (69)
Hull FC Conversions: Reynolds (45, 61, 70)
Warrington Wolves Tries: King (5), Dufty (33, 78), Walker (50)
Warrington Wolves Conversions: Thewlis (6, 34, 51, 79)
Attendance, sponsored by Garbutts: 10,083
Rowe Freight Man Of The Match: Logan Moy
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