Round 21
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 18 l. Hull FC 26

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Important victory for Hull FC over Wakefield as Cup Semi looms
Sun July 13, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Hull struck a psychological blow ahead of their Challenge Cup semi-final with Wakefield by coming from 12-6 down at half-time to complete an engage Super League double over the Wildcats with a 26-18 win.

Richard Agar's men produced an inspired second-half performance to run in four tries to one and register only their sixth win of the season, lifting them to 10th place in the table.

More importantly, this result will give them renewed confidence for their semi-final at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium on July 27, while John Kear's men are facing something of a crisis after a third successive defeat seriously damaged their play-off hopes.

Hull were badly in need of a boost after winning just one of their last eight matches and they made the more impressive start, particularly through lively forward Jamie Thackray.

They went in front after 11 minutes when hooker Danny Houghton touched down his own grubber kick, which bounced fortuitously back off a post. Danny Tickle added the conversion.

But the Wildcats, who had the chance to oust Bradford from sixth place, began to get on top as the first half wore on and took the lead with the aid of two tries in four minutes midway through the half.

Stand-off Jamie Rooney re-gathered a grubber kick by hooker Brad Drew for the first and winger Damien Blanch took advantage of a kind bounce following Danny Brough's towering 'bomb' to touch down at the corner.

Brough added one conversion and Wakefield thought they had extended their lead after 30 minutes when substitute Dale Ferguson brushed aside the challenge of Kirk Yeaman to cross the line but video referee Steve Ganson disallowed the try because of an obstruction by team-mate Jason Golden.

The introduction of ball-playing forward Danny Sculthorpe added much-needed variety to Wakefield's attack and Hull were forced to defend desperately to keep protect their line.

But the home side had to settle for an additional two points via a Brough penalty after Hull captain Lee Radford was pulled up for a trip on Sam Obst, with referee Richard Silverwood putting the back-row forward on report for the incident.

Hull were rejuvenated by the break for they played with more purpose in the second half and, with Willie Manu causing havoc with his offloads, they presented all sorts of problems for the Wakefield defence.

Manu created a try for Yeaman and was also instrumental in Berrigan sending substitute Craig Hall over, both scores coming within nine minutes of the restart.

Full-back Matt Sing and stand-off Danny Washbrook both lost the ball going for further tries but the pressure paid off when young winger Tom Briscoe followed up Yeaman's kick to touch down.

And Hall made the game safe in the 70th minute when he took Briscoe's pass and raced 80 metres up the touchline, holding off a spirited rearguard effort by Drew, for his second try.

Drew then grabbed a third try for Wakefield but it was little more than consolation by then.

Report Source: www.superleague.co.uk

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