Hull FC 12 Wakefield Trinity 8: Hull get better of Wakefield in dismal encounter

Richard Whiting's two tries provided the platform as the ragged Airlie Birds – led superbly by stand-in captain Mark O'Meley – eked their way to a much-needed victory and consigned frustrated Wakefield to a fourth successive loss.

Given the amount of errors in a bitty game it was obvious both clubs were low in confidence and form. But it was Richard Agar's injury-plagued Black and Whites, having defended their line superbly for most of the encounter, who came through to rise up to fifth in the table.

For Wakefield, whose own personnel problems were increased after try-scorer Daryl Millard was carried off with a leg injury last night, it does not get any easier as they face champions Leeds at Magic Weekend next Saturday evening.

John Kear will know his side should have arrested their slump in east Yorkshire but – despite the promptings of stand-off Ben Jeffries – they continually wasted opportunities and a patched-up Hull dug in.

The hosts were missing seven regulars. Kirk Yeaman, who signed a new three-year deal this week, failed to shake off a leg injury suffered in last week's Challenge Cup loss against Leeds so Jordan Turner started at centre with Mike Burnett coming in for Lee Radford (hip). Craig Fitzgibbon and Danny Tickle were also missing after the costly defeat joining the already absent Sean Long, Shaun Berrigan and Mark Calderwood.

Wakefield, without the injured Matt Blaymire, Glenn Morrison and Kevin Henderson, and having seen prop Shane Tronc head back to Australia last week, had their own issues but started well, Millard giving them an 11th-minute lead when the Fijian centre picked up the pieces after Whiting failed to deal with Jeffries's hanging kick.

Paul Cooke – met by the predictable hail of abuse on his latest return to the KC Stadium – failed to convert from wide out but it was his side who had the better of the early exchanges.

Half-back partner Jeffries had already been denied twice, first by an excellent double tackle from Jordan Tansey and Tom Briscoe when the former Bradford Bulls man seemed destined to score, and again in the build-up to Millard's opener.

Cooke also squandered a gift when he fumbled Aaron Murphy's knock-down from another pinpoint kick by Jeffries and Hull struck back through Whiting from their first genuine opportunity in the 19th minute

Wakefield's Damien Blanch did well to shoot in from his wing and close down Tansey but the winger could not hold on to the Hull full-back who weaved his way back infield before sending Whiting through a gap, the wideman blasting through two weak tackles to score. Craig Hall improved but the home side continued to come under pressure.

They were thankful for video referee Richard Silverwood's intervention when Sam Obst thought he had crossed.

Cooke's grubber was poor but he hacked on the ricochet for Obst to pick up. However, Silverwood rightly ruled Cooke's second attempt had seen him boot the ball out of Tansey's grasp.

Whiting recovered well to drag Luke George into touch when the winger got on the outside of him only to see Horne wastefully squander the possession he had won.

Willie Manu slipped Hall a fine pass to design a striking shot for him but the speeding wingman had no support after advancing 50 metres and Aaron Murphy reeled him in.

With Wakefield stretched, Hull still had a chance but Tansey – who had already mis-cued one kick out on the full – bizarrely ignored a promising position to boot the ball aimlessly downfield.

They did get across the whitewash when Whiting pounced on George's fumble following Horne's kick to the corner in the 39th minute and Hall converted to make it 12-4 at the break.

But Hull, who gave debuts to Leeds loanee Paul McShane and 18-year-old West Hull junior Danny Nicklas, again had to doggedly protect their line for the early part of the second half.

They missed a glorious chance to give themselves some breathing space when Hall escaped down the right flank. Tansey offered the link but his forced pass ended up in Wakefield hands.

Fortunately for Agar's side, their opponents seemed equally as desperate not to take control.

Obst fumbled, Cooke's trademark long passes came to nothing and Sean Gleeson could not gather a promising kick as impatient Wakefield continued to lack a finish.

They lost Millard to injury and, by the time Gleeson and Jeffries finally moulded a try for Blanch in the 79th minute, it was too late.

Hull FC: Tansey; Whiting, Turner, Hall, Briscoe; Washbrook, Horne; Dowes, Houghton, O'Meley, Burnett, Lauaki, Manu. Substitutes: McShane, Nicklas, Moa, Cusack.

Wakefield: Murphy; George, Gleeson, Millard, Blanch; Cooke, Jeffries; Moore, Leo-Latu, King, Johnson, Demetriou, Kirmond. Substitutes: Korkidas, Ferguson, Obst, Bibb.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham).

Harlequins turned the table on its head by coming from 24-6 down at half-time to pull off a stunning 38-26 victory over Wigan in front of an 18,605 crowd, the biggest of the season in Super League XV so far.

Makeshift full-back Luke Dorn sparked the revival with two tries in 10 minutes and captain Rob Purdham clinched the Londoners' second win of the season with his first try of 2010 11 minutes from the end.