Hull see off Wolves in error-strewn table top clash

WARRINGTON Wolves missed the chance to go top of Super League as they were beaten 19-12 by current leaders Hull.

In an error-strewn contest at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Gareth Ellis’ converted try in the final quarter gave Hull the edge before Marc Sneyd’s late drop goal made sure.

It was hardly the classic that would befit the top two teams in the league, though despite the continuous errors it was a game you could barely take your eye off.

The tone was set early doors as both sides made handling errors.

It was off an error that the Wolves took a fourth minute lead, Chris Sandow chasing down his own deep kick and then forcing full-back Jamie Shaul in to spilling the ball and Gene Ormsby was present to pounce in the corner.

Despite barely completing a set in the first quarter, Hull were still able to gain field position and they began to probe the Wolves defensive line, Sneyd’s grubber kick forcing a drop out.

From the subsequent kick return, Hull’s ponderous attack created an open as they moved the ball left and quick hands by Shaul created the space for Fetuli Talanoa to power over in the corner.

Joe Westerman should have scored against his former club on 15 minutes, spilling the ball close to the line, and another ex-Airlie Bird Tom Lineham could only watch as Sandow’s kick went over him and in to touch.

It took another Hull mistake to create Warrington’s second try. A hesitant Sneyd failed to get a kick away in time, enabling Ben Julien to charge down and he released Sandow to run 30 metres and slide over the whitewash.

Kurt Gidley knocked the conversion over from the touchline to put Warrington 10-6 to the good, and they started a period of relative dominance, often helped by Hull’s inability to take the ball away from their own end without an error.

But, perhaps a sign of a champion team, the mistakes didn’t seem to phase Hull and they gradually worked their way up the pitch.

Another drop out was forced, and this time it was Mark Minichiello sent storming through a large gap on the left and he stepped Stefan Ratchford to score.

Hull took a 12-10 lead in to the break as Warrington wasted good opportunity in the final five minutes of the first half.

Brad Dwyer almost went over within two minutes of the restart, poleaxed by a high tackle, but again the Wolves wasted the opportunity as they were pulled for obstruction.

Daryl Clark then bombed a golden opportunity to put the Wolves back in front, as Sneyd dropped a high bomb backwards and all the hooker had to do was pick the ball up and run in unopposed from 10 metres, but he fumbled it.

For the next 15 minutes, the game at times resorted a farce as both teams spilled the ball on multiple occasions in the humid conditions.

Eventually, Hull cracked, conceding a penalty for offside under the posts that enabled Gidley to level things up at 12-12.

That seemed to at least focus both sides, and the errors, for a time, started to stop.

Hull finally managed some complete sets and after Gene Ormsby knocked on early in the tackle count, they were handed the perfect opportunity.

Ellis stormed on to a short ball on a great line and his sheer grit and determination took him over the try line under the sticks, and Hull were 18-12 to the good with 15 minutes to play.

Hull should have perhaps wrapped up the points moments later, as big Frank Pritchard powered away down the left and waited for the supporting Shaul, who was hauled back and lost possession.

At the other end, a Gidley kick trapped Steve Michaels in goal, but frustratingly the Wolves wasted the chance as Ashton Sims offloaded straight to a Hull defender.

Hull found their way towards the Wolves line again, and Carlos Tuimavave slashed a drop goal wide of the posts after usual taker Sneyd had been wrapped in an attempt the tackle previous.

That kept the Wolves alive with five minutes left, and a huge Sandow bomb was spilled by Shaul, with Hull conceding a penalty for offside.

But perhaps typical of the game, as the Wolves moved the ball left, Ryan Atkins knocked on in the tackle and the chance was gone.

It proved to be the last chance for the home side, as Sneyd knocked over a well taken drop goal to put the game beyond the hosts.

The Wolves will slip down to fourth in the Super League table if Catalans beat St Helens on Saturday evening.

Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, R. Evans, Atkins, Ormsby, Gidley, Sandow, Hill, Clark, Sims, Currie, Jullien, Westerman. Replacements: Dwyer, G. King, Wilde, Bailey.

Hull: Shaul, Michaels, Fonua, Yeaman, Talanoa, Tuimavave, Sneyd, Taylor, Houghton, Watts, Minichiello, Manu, Ellis. Replacements: Green, Bowden, Pritchard, Washbrook.