Seventh heaven for Warrington Wolves as they thrash Hull FC

Pictures Eddie Whitham
A DOMINANT first-half display helped Warrington Wolves secure their seventh straight win at the start of the Super League season with a 34-6 win over Hull.

It equals their best-ever start to a Super League season, previously achieved in 2016 when Tony Smith was coach.

Smith is now in the dugout at Hull, who are having a torrid time, suffering their fifth straight loss.

The game was over as a contest by halftime as the dominant Wolves ran in five first-half tries to build a 28-0 interval advantage.

The Wolves claimed tries through Matty Ashton, Peter Mata’utia, Ben Currie, Matt Dufty and Josh Drinkwater in a clinical opening 40 minutes with Stefan Ratchford kicking four goals.

Warrington cruised through most of the second half but added to their tally with a Matty Nicholson try and Ratchford booted over his fifth goal of the afternoon.

It was another disappointing performance from Tony Smith’s side who suffered their fifth straight Super League defeat and they claimed just a second-half consolation try through Brad Dwyer and a Jake Clifford conversion.

The Wolves were without Sam Kasiano due to suspension and Daryl Clark with a knee injury picked up in the win against Castleford but Drinkwater returned at half-back and Josh Thewlis on the bench.

And prop forward Thomas Mikaele played his last game for the club before returning to Australia on compassionate grounds.

The Wolves were quickly out of the blocks and had crossed twice within the opening 11 minutes as Ashton touched down a George Williams kick and Mata’utia crashed over from close range.

Another Williams kick produced a try for Currie midway through the first half to increase the home side’s lead to 16-0.

Hull had no answer to Warrington’s outstanding defence and on a rare occasion when the visitors did threaten they lost possession and Williams scooped up the loose ball and fed the supporting Dufty for a spectacular near length of the field effort.

Warrington claimed their fifth try of the half in the final minute when Drinkwater strolled through some poor defence and with Ratchford landing both conversions the Wolves were in total control at 28-0 at half time.

Hull offered a little more resistance in the second half and Carlos Tuimavave had a try ruled out by the video referee before they opened their account on the hour mark when Dwyer scrambled over from close range and Clifford converted.

But the Wolves had the final say when Nicholson crossed nine minutes from time and Ratchford converted to complete a convincing win.

Warrington: Dufty; Russell, Minikin, Ratchford, Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater; Mikaele, Walker, Vaughan, Currie, Nicholson, Mata’utia. Interchanges: Philbin, Thewlis, Dudson, Thomas [Whitehead]

Hull FC: Hoy; Litten, Tuimavave, Sutcliffe, Swift; Lovodua, Clifford; Taylor, Houghton, Satae, Savelio, Griffin, Fash. Interchanges: Lane, Cator, Evans, Dwyer [Staveley]

Picture Eddie Whitham

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