Hull FC 26 Wakefield Trinity 23 - Black and Whites pushed to the limit for Super League points

Twice they thought they had Wakefield out of sight here and twice they found Chris Chester’s side valiantly fighting back.

When 26-10 ahead with 10 minutes to go, you would have thought Andy Last’s side would ease their way home especially against a depleted Trinity outfit missing plenty of regulars after being shutdown for Covid-related reasons last week.

But Kelepi Tanginoa, the forceful second-row who excelled, scored a try either side of Connor Wyne’s yellow card for a professional foul, and suddenly they were on the ropes.

Crucially, Ryan Hampshire could not convert the latter in the 77th minute so they trailed by three and had to go for glory.

It looked like they might get it when Hampshire ushered Joe Westerman through but, just as the former Hull loose forward looked to offload, Brad Fash vitally knocked the ball clear.

Hull, also missing a raft of players with one eye on Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie with Castleford Tigers, had seen Jordan Lane impress with two tries and this win sees them keep alive their hopes of making a push for the top-four.

Trinity gave debuts to youngsters Connor Bailey and Yusuf Aydin while there was the welcome sight of winger Ben Jones-Bishop making his first appearance in 11 months after battling back from a blood clot for the second time in his career.

Hull scored first as Wynne – the young full-back making a rare appearance with Jamie Shaul absent – cut a lovely angle infield before finding Lane bustling over.

After Reece Lyne’s fumble, Wynne had the opportunity for another assist but this time his more difficult long ball was slightly in front of Adam Swift and the chance went.

England international Lyne soon atoned for his error by pushing off Cameron Scott – the 20-year-old Hull centre also looking to make his mark – and sendingJones-Bishop off into space.

As always, he showed his class by perfectly drawing Wynne but Hampshire, the supporting half-back demonstrated less composure, inexplicably dropping the pass and a certain try. It looked especially costly when, in the next set, Albert Kelly came up with a miracle pass to find Swift, the winger who still had some work to do to score his 100th try in his 150th career game.

Jake Connor could not convert the latter but a wretched Hampshire pass saw Wakefield waste another promising position.

Still, Bureta Faraimo came up with his own gaffe just 20m from his own line and that gifted Chris Chester’s side their own chance to make amends.

They took it clinically; Max Jowitt got over from close range and then added his second as his side scored back-to-back tries, Lyne giving Scott nightmares again to escape down the right edge and Jones-Bishop this time opting for his full-back in support rather than Hampshire.

Hampshire improved both but Hull reclaimed the lead in the 37th minute. Second-row Andre Savelio had dropped a pass with no one near him earlier on but, in this instance, when located in the right centre slot, produced a wonderfully swift hand-on for Swift to gain his second. Admittedly, Hampshire hit back with an impromptu drop-goal after the interval hooter but Last’s side had a 14-13 interval lead.

Both sides struggled for cohesion in the second half but Hull –with Chris Satae in form and Masi Matongo bringing some punch off the bench – applied most pressure and, crucially, scored first.

Connor hoisted a crossfield kick, Mahe Fonua rose high and, though referee Marcus Griffiths said ‘no try’ on the field, video referee James Child ruled Savelio did ground the loose ball.

Connor converted the 55th-minute effort but his side were let off when Tanginoa burst through to find Bailey in support and a try seemed certain. However, a desperate Faraimo managed to get a hand in to deny the final pass.

Again, it was a vital intervention as, soon after, Connor’s hopeful grubber ricocheted off Lyne’s foot and landed perfectly in Lane’s grasp for the Hull second-row to claim his second try.

Connor did the rest. Then came his side’s wobble but they got home and, for all their efforts, Trinity’s hopes of ending their winless run since the restart were over for another week.

Hull FC: Wynne; Swift, Fonua, Scott, Faraimo; Kelly, Connor; Bowden, Houghton, Fash, Savelio, Lane, Cator. Substitutes: Brown, Buchanan, Matongo, Satae.

Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt; Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Tupou, Senior; Bailey, Hampshire; Kopczak, Crowther, King, Pitts, Tanginoa, Westerman. Substitutes: J Wood, Green, Gwaze, Aydin.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths (Widnes).

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Thank you

James Mitchinson