A CONTROVERSIAL late try cost Warrington Wolves the points as they went down 18-16 at Hull FC.
The two sides had been locked at 12-all for the whole of the second half, until Matty Ashton put them in front 10 minutes from the end.
But Ligi Sao crashed over from close to the line with three minutes to play, and the video referee awarded it despite him appearing to be held up over the line.
Warrington made just one change from the team that beat Salford on Thursday, with Jason Clark coming in for Ellis Longstaff.
They suffered a blow in the first half though when Jack Hughes was helped from the field through injury.
After the Wolves had edged the territorial battle at the start, they were put on the back foot when Ben Currie was sent to the sin bin for tackling Jordan Lane off the ball.
Lane had been backing up Jake Connor’s run close to the line and Currie placed a hand on him when Connor offloaded and that was enough to prompt referee Chris Kendall to show him the yellow card.
From the field position, Hull shifted the ball left and Jamie Shaul slid in at the corner.
Even with a man less, Warrington still looked to have enough to match their opponents and they levelled things up in bizarre circumstances.
A penalty was awarded on half way, and as Hull retreated, they turned their backs, and Daryl Clark showed great opportunism to tap the ball and pierce through the middle of the defence and run 50 metres for a try.
When Currie returned, Hull seemed to find an extra gear and they re-took the lead when Brad Fash took on Luke Gale’s short ball with a good line to go over.
The scores were level at the break though, Stefan Ratchford’s high kick spilled by Darnell McIntosh and touched down by Ashton in the corner.
The game was finely poised and Hull had more of the running in the second half but neither side could break the deadlock.
As the last 15 minutes approached, Gale dragged the first drop goal attempt wide.
From the next set of six, Wolves worked up the other end and a wonderful tip pass by Josh Thewlis enabled Ashton to finish in the corner.
Gareth Widdop missed a difficult conversion attempt but it looked like the Wolves would have enough to see it out.
But after Hull had earned a six-again near to the line, Sao crashed over on top of Ellis Longstaff, with Clark also helping out to keep the ball off the ground.
Crucially, referee Kendall sent it up to the video referee as a try, and without sufficient evidence to overturn it, the try was awarded.
A simple conversion for Gale followed and Hull edged home.
Hull: Connor, Shaul, Tuimavave, Wynne, McIntosh, Lovodua, Gale, Sao, Johnstone, Bowden, Ma’u, Lane, Fash. Subs: Satae, Evans, Brown, Vulikijipani.
Warrington: Thewis, Charnley, Mata’utia, King, Ashton, Widdop, Ratchford, Mulhern, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Longstaff, Hughes. Subs: Philbin, Clark, Bullock, Walker
Brilliant play, @Darylclark9 🌪️🌪️ pic.twitter.com/dgy25L575n
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) April 18, 2022
Thoughts on the opening 40? 🐺 pic.twitter.com/fZHtbE1fG4
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) April 18, 2022
Thank you for your support today, Wire fans 👏
The lads gave it everything 🐺 pic.twitter.com/qEp6R3k3S8
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) April 18, 2022
