Wakefield 18 Hull FC 52: Yeaman recovers after half-time fit as Hull turn heat up on Trinity

The former Great Britain international had played an integral part in turning around an early deficit yesterday, scoring one try and helping create another as the Airlie Birds went into the break narrowly ahead 16-12.

But when assistant coaches James Webster and Andy Last were seen rushing back to the dug-out for medical equipment at half-time it was obvious all was not well in the visiting ranks.

Yeaman, Super League’s leading try-scorer, had suffered convulsions during the interval prompting some immediate medical attention.

“We did have a bit of a problem,” admitted Agar, “and I should really pay tribute to the rest of the players as Kirk had an epileptic fit at half-time.

“It’s probably not that well known that he suffers from epilepsy and it’s been 10 years since he last had one.

“Unfortunately, my half-time speech tipped him over the edge!

“I’m making light of it now but it was a pretty scary situation for everyone.

“Half-time was different; we couldn’t address much and were just concerned for Kirk’s welfare.

“Ben Raynor, our doctor, did a terrific job and thankfully Kirk’s alright now.

“He’s sat up there and is a little bit shaken but he’s okay and talking. The doctor will take him home tonight but he just feels a little tired and jaded.”

The game was played under intense heat – water bottles were lined up alongside the touchline and kickers were surreptitiously allowed to take longer than usual with their conversion attempts – while Yeaman was also rattled by a big tackle from Greg Johnson during the first period.

However Agar insisted neither had been responsible for the 27-year-old’s episode.

“It’s nothing to do with heat, the knock or anything in the game,” he said.

“It was just one of those random things which can happen to people who suffer from epilepsy.

“Half-time was a little bit difficult and it certainly had the potential to rattle our players but we asked to go out and do it for Kirky and we finished the game pretty well.

“We probably haven’t done that as much as we should in the past but I thought our middle men – the front-rowers and the bench – were great and helped rectify the early problems.”

Aided by a hefty penalty count in their favour and some desperately soft defence from Wakefield, the East Yorkshire club soon assumed control in that second period.

The ease with which Richard Horne ushered Danny Tickle through for a try in the 42nd minute was a sign of things to come and when Richard Whiting intercepted Glenn Morrison’s pass to go 90m soon after, Hull were on course for their third successive win and the grandest since Agar’s promotion in 2008.

Matthew Wildie’s abysmal attempted tackle on Whiting as the winger edged down the touchline was illustrative of the lacklustre performance of too many of the Trinity players.

They were handed a lifeline when Joe Westerman’s kick was blocked by Luke George and he picked up to race 60m for a try but it proved a mere respite before Hull’s points explosion.

The visitors rested Craig Fitzgibbon due to a slight injury but they did not miss his presence in the middle as Mark O’Meley led from the front.

It was the Australian prop who helped create Whiting’s second although the resistance out wide was again too lax, likewise when ex-Trinity star Sam Obst put Jordan Turner slicing through a gaping hole for another just after the hour.

Five penalties in quick succession riled Wildcats further but their task was not helped when Jeremy Smith – one of the more experienced players in John Kear’s ensemble – was sin-binned for persistent offside seconds after being warned.

With him off, O’Meley barged over for a well-deserved effort before England winger Tom Briscoe scored the try of the game. Cameron Phelps returned a Trinity kick deep in his own 20 and found Whiting who sped up the wing.

He was half tackled but found Turner - the fact he was allowed to off-load while on his knees another black mark against the intensity of Wildcats’ tiring bodies – who then passed on to Briscoe in centre field who raced 60 metres doing brilliantly to keep Johnson at bay all the way to the far corner.

Hull’s final effort was far simpler as Richard Horne’s inside ball was latched onto by Lee Radford, Tickle finishing with six goals.

It had all been so different at the start when the visitors barely got a touch in the opening 11 minutes, courtesy of a Julien Rinaldi 40/20, a couple of handling errors and the opening three penalties of the game.

Trinity went 12-0 ahead with near identical tries as Smith’s kicks twice ricocheted off an upright, first to Gareth Moore and then to Kyle Amor, Moore improving both.

However, once Hull secured some possession they quickly demonstrated they were a far more potent force and the effortless nature of their tries should have been a warning sign of the avalanche to come as Westerman, Yeaman – with his 18th of the year – and Horne all profited far too easily to put them in front at the break.

Wakefield: Blaymire; G Johnson, George, Murphy, Griffin; Moore, Smith; P Johnson, Rinaldi, Amor, Mariano, Morrison, Lee. Substitutes: Hickey, Wildie, King, Henderson.

Hull: Phelps; Whiting, Turner, Yeaman, Briscoe; Horne, Obst; O’Meley, Houghton, Moa, Manu, Tickle, Westerman. Substitutes: Washbrook, Lauaki, Radford, Dowes.

Referee: J Child (Dewsbury).