Wolves knocked off perch by Airlie Birds

WARRINGTON Wolves were knocked off top spot as they suffered a shock 24-10 defeat at home to Hull.
The Wolves, with Centre Matt King back in the starting line up for the first time following his knee injury in the opening game of the season, looked to be coasting to a second straight victory over the busy Easter period as they raced to a 10-0 lead.
But the Airlie Birds – fresh from their derby win over arch-rivals Rovers fought back with 24 unanswered points at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Centre Kirk Yeaman crossed twice for the visitors, his second try in the 75th minute sealing the points for Hull’s injury ravaged side.
Warrington scored after just six minutes when Ben Westwood and King combined to set up Joel Monaghan for his 10th try of the season. But Brett Hodgson struck the upright with his opening conversion attempt.
A second try came after 15 minutes when Michael Monaghan set free Louis Anderson, who in turn passed the ball onto Ryan Atkins. The centre cleverly made use of the supporting Rhys Williams (pictured right) , allowing the winger to race in for his fourth try in three games.Hodgson made no mistake with his second attempt at goal.
But the expected floodgates never opened and Hull hit back as Craig Fitzgibbon created an opening for Danny Houghton as the Black and Whites got on the board after 22 minutes, Danny Tickle coverting the extras to make it 10-6.
The visitors edged themselves in front by half time when Yeaman darted over from dummy half, Tickle again adding on the extras.
It took until just after an hour of play for the next points to arrive as the Wolves fluffed an attacking move as Atkins allowed a Hodgson pass to slip through his fingers, allowing Will Sharp to seize on the loose ball and run 70 metres to the posts.
Tickle’s third goal left the Wolves requiring two scores and, with the game slipping away, they started to show some urgency.
Lee Briers’ offload set up Micky Higham to go in next to the uprights, but the try was ruled out for a forward a pass and then Warrington were finally finished off with five minutes to go when Yeaman completed his brace after Adrian Morley had lost possession in his bid to keep the ball alive.
Wolves head coach Tony Smith praised Hull for their efforts adding: “We didn’t handle the day as well as we would have liked. We made too many errors with and without the ball.
“We tried to lift on occasions and get ourselves out of that but I felt some of our key players weren’t at their best.
“About four or five were down on what you would expect. That makes it hard but hats off to Hull they have handled the short turn around better than we did.
“We weren’t at our best and paid the price for it.”

Pictures show Paul Wood taking on the Hull defence, try scorer Rhys Williams and Wolves’ old boy Martin Gleeson.
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Wolves: Brett Hodgson, Joel Monaghan, Matt King, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Williams, Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan, Paul Wood Jon Clarke, Adrian Morley, Ben Westwood, Louis Anderson ,Ben Harrison
Substitutes: David Solomona ,Matty Blythe, Mick Higham, Garreth Carvell

Hull: Kirk Yeaman, Cameron Phelps, Richard Whiting, Martin Gleeson, Tom Briscoe, Richard Horne, Sam Obst, Craig Fitzgibbon, Danny Tickle , Willie Manu, Danny Houghton, Mark O’Meley, Sam Moa
Substitues: Will Sharp, Danny Washbrook, Epalahame Lauaki , Ewan Dowes

Atten 12,035