Wakefield spring surprise and Hull FC also impress

All six of the county’s top-flight clubs started their campaigns yesterday.

As well as Trinity recovering from a 22-6 deficit to win 24-22 against last year’s main success story, Hull FC delivered an eye-catching performance of their own, prospering 19-0 at Huddersfield Giants.

Another side who flattered to deceive last season – Hull KR –
almost produced a third shock before eventually succumbing 40-30 against Challenge Cup holders Leeds Rhinos.

The sport’s powerbrokers are desperate for the competition’s new structure – whereby the two top divisions split into three groups of eight after 23 rounds – to prove a success and, in truth, they could not have wished for a better opening weekend.

Wakefield’s result, given they are tipped by many to finish bottom, was the highlight.

Castleford reached Wembley last August and finished just two points from top spot with Daryl Powell winning Coach of the Year, but Trinity showed tremendous character.

“We defended outstandingly for long periods,” said Webster, his side scoring three tries in 10 minutes late on to silence the majority of a near-capacity 10,728 crowd.

“We’ve got a common belief that we’re a tougher, stronger team than we were last year.

“We’ve tried to recruit differently and avoid what everybody kind of perceives Wakefield as – a team you could probably eventually out arm-wrestle.

“I couldn’t be happier to get two points at Cas, who put us away three times last year, and it shows we’re making some strides.”

Powell was fuming with his squad following their unexpected collapse.

“In terms of mentality I thought the last 10 minutes of each half was disgraceful,” he said.

“Ten points in front with not much time left and still trying to score a try with our kicking game I thought was pretty dumb. Then we went all soft defensively.

“It’s clearly not acceptable to be losing from the position we were in. The mentality to finish a game off that the best teams have wasn’t evident so that’s the biggest disappointment.”

Hull came 11th last term, just above Wakefield, yet yesterday kept Huddersfield – who finished just a point behind leaders and champions St Helens – pointless on their own ground.

Airlie Birds chief Lee Radford was the bookmakers’ favourite to become the first coach to get the sack under the added pressure of a structure which means any side out of the top eight after 23 rounds is under threat of the drop.

But he joked: “I think I’m second favourite now. I thought without being spectacular, we warranted the result. We were very gritty.”

Full-back Jamie Shaul clinched Hull’s first win at the John Smith’s Stadium for six years with two tries in a crucial seven-minute spell in the second half but Marc Sneyd, the half-back so inspired when on loan at Castleford from Salford last year, made the difference with his control.

Huddersfield were nilled for the first time in four years but their coach Paul Anderson, who saw his club’s main friendly at Bradford Bulls frozen off, did not seem overly concerned.

“We lacked a bit of cohesion but I thought for 60 minutes there was nothing in it,” he said.

“Hull were a bit more clinical than we were. They took their three chances.

“We lost a bit of patience towards (the end) and there was some frustration coming in. It was maybe a reality check.”

Leeds coach Brian McDermott admits his side were “fortunate” to win at Hull KR after twice coming back from 14-point deficits to succeed via late tries from Zac Hardaker and Brad Singleton.

He said: “The bounce of a ball and a couple of other things went our way. There are things we need to correct. Defensively we were leaky but KR deserve a lot of credit.”

Rovers head coach Chris Chester said: “There’s lots of positives. We were the better side for 65 minutes. I’m disappointed with the result but happy with the performance.”

Reports: Page 5.