WARRINGTON Wolves are guaranteed a home game in the Super League play-offs after holding on to beat Hull FC 16-14.
Although the hosts attempted to come back from 16-2, Warrington had enough to win the two points that means the lowest they can now finish in the table is fourth.
A top two finish is still possible, though their inferior points difference means they require one of Leeds or Wigan, who play each other next week, to lose both their remaining games as well as the Wolves defeating Wakefield and Toulouse.
The platform for this victory, their 19th of the campaign, was built late in the first half.
It took 18 minutes for any points, George Williams converting a penalty following a ball steal, but barely three minutes later Hull had levelled things up with an Aiden Sezer penalty.
There were 34 minutes on the clock when Leon Hayes finally crossed for the first try of the match, and that was quickly followed by Matty Ashton’s four pointer after a Hull error, which helped Warrington in to a 12-2 half-time advantage.
Josh Thewlis stretched that lead further on 50, and that proved to be enough.
Brad O’Neill and Tom Briscoe, who this week announced he will retire at the end of the season, scored a try apiece inside three minutes, both converted by Sezer, which gave Hull 10 minutes to overturn a two-point deficit.
They failed to do so, and they are still locked in a battle to avoid bottom spot in the table.
Warrington know now that even if they don’t make the top two, they will be at home in the play-offs.
Hull: Moy, Barron, Litten, Briscoe, Martin, Arthur, Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, O’Neill, Bell. Subs: Kemp, Lisone, Romano, Sao.
Warrington: Thewlis, Hopoate, Lindop, King, Ashton, Williams, Hayes, Byrne, Walker, Harrison, Bentley, Stone, Currie. Subs: Powell, Wood, Philbin, Thomas
1 Comment
Batchelor yellow carded inside 30 seconds must be a record in rugby league