Two tries from Ratu Naulago helped Hull FC to a 10-point success against Wakefield Trinity at the Mobile Rocket Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Hull move back into third-place in Super League whilst Wakefield remain in danger, sitting just two points above the foot of the table.
MATCH DETAILS
Hull claimed a 26-16 win against Wakefield to condemn the Dreadnoughts to a fifth consecutive defeat in the league and move one step closer to securing end of season play-off place.
A super individual try from Ryan Hampshire broke the deadlock on 10 minutes, after an error-strewn opening at the Mobile Rocket Stadium.
The visitors responded when Marc Sneyd’s tantalising grubber kick hit the upright before bouncing kindly into the hands of Jake Connor who passed to Bureta Faraimo to score.
Carlos Tuimavave then scored an opportunist interception try, off the back of a Trinity scrum, racing 70-metres up-field to score in the corner.
Sneyd extended Hull’s lead minutes later when he dummied his way over the try line before Naulago scored the Airlie Birds fourth try in the space of 11 first-half minutes when he went over in the corner to send the visitors into a 20-6 lead at the interval.
Nauago scored his second try of the match, 10 minutes into the second-half, running 80-metres after another Tuimavave interception.
Joe Arundel reduced the deficit, on 54 minutes, when he threw a dummy close to the Hull try-line before going over in the corner.
Wakefield went over again with seven minutes left to play when Hampshire kicked through, in-field, for Jacob Miller to score but it was too little too late as Hull held on to claim a 10-point victory.
The defeat is Wakefield’s 10th in their last 11 Super League games and remain just two points above bottom side London Broncos.
Hull move back above Wigan Warriors into third-place and become the third side to reach the 30-point mark in Super League this season.
It was the Airlie Birds who made the better start when Marc Sneyd produced a magical 40/20 kick, out of nothing, with the outside of his left boot, in the opening minutes of the game, only for Hull to knock on in the first tackle of the resulting set.
Ryan Hampshire then scored the game’s opening try, collecting the ball out of the back of the scrum, before producing a beautiful step away from his marker and racing away underneath the sticks.
Sneyd’s kicking game continued to cause Wakefield problems when his dangerous grubber kick hit the post with the ball snaffled up by Connor who offloaded to Faraimo to score Hull’s first try of the afternoon.
The visitors scored a second try in the space of five minutes, when Tuimavave intercepted Hampshire’s pass out of the scrum, before running 70-metres to score on 24 minutes.
The masterful Sneyd kicked a second 40/20, before scoring a try himself just two minutes later. The Hull number seven dummied his way through the Wakefield defence before going over for an easy try.
Hull scored a fourth try in quick succession when Connor dummied a kick, before passing out wide to Naulago, who sped away from the Trinity defence to further extend his side’s lead.
The game was put to bed 10 minutes into the second-half when Naulago notched his second try of the game. Tuimavave intercepted debutant Morgan Escare’s pass before bumping off a couple of defenders and passing to Naulago who ran the length of the pitch to score Hull’s fifth try of the afternoon.
Wakefield grabbed their second try of the game when Arundel scored on 54 minutes to give Trinity a glimmer of hope heading into the final quarter before Miller added another try late on when he collected Hampshire’s kick in-field.
Hull now need just two more wins from their remaining fixtures, to secure a top-five finish, with three of their remaining four league games being home fixtures.
Trinity remain in danger after suffering yet another defeat with just four fixtures left to play and meet Hull KR in a crucial game at KCOM Craven Park next week.
FOUR POINTERS
Winless Wakefield
Wakefield’s form continues to plummet, having suffered a 10th defeat in their last 11 Super League games. They sit in ninth-position at the end of Round 25, just two points ahead of London at the bottom of the table. Currently, on an extremely poor run of form, coach Chris Chester needs to rally his troops heading into the final weeks of the season in order to secure their safety in the top-flight.
Relegation Four Pointer
Next Sunday’s clash with Hull KR at KCOM Craven Park is a must-win game for the Dreadnoughts. Wakefield still have fixtures against both Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves to come, before playing Leeds Rhinos on the final day of the season. This means their clash with Hull KR is arguably their most winnable remaining fixture, given the Rhinos recent up-turn in form.
Super Sneyd!
Marc Sneyd was at his mesmeric best on Sunday afternoon producing two spectacular 40/20 kicks as well as contributing 10 points to his team’s total. He has now executed more 40/20 kicks than any other player in Super League this season with four.ย He also doubled his try tally for 2019 with a well-taken effort, beating a pair of Wakefield defenders before scoring and converting his own try.
Hull Need to Build Momentum
With St Helens looking almost invincible at times this season, any team looking to stop them will have to be at the very top of their game. With four games left to play in the league this season, including a home clash with Saints on the final day of the season, it’s crucial that Hull build up some momentum to take into the play-offs, having ended a two-game losing streak in all competitions.
THE RESULT
Wakefield Trinity 16
Tries: Hampshire, Arundel, Miller
Goals: Brough 2
Drop Goals: n/a
Hull FC 26
Tries: Faraimo, Tuimavave, Sneyd, Naulago 2
Goals: Sneyd 3
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Wakefield Trinity: Hampshire, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Tupou, Escare, Miller, Brough, Tanginoa, Wood, Kopczak, Kirmond, Arundel, Batchelor
Interchanges:ย Randell, Fifita, Tangata, Annakin
Hull FC: Shaul, Faraimo, Griffin, Tuimavave, Naulago, Connor, Sneyd, Taylor, Houghton, Bowden, Lane, Minichiello, Ellis
Interchanges:ย Matongo, Fash, Washbrook, Brown
