Wakefield Trinity 26 Hull FC 27: Marc Sneyd at it again in Golden Point extra-time

Hull FC coach Lee Radford will have wished his side - staring a fourth straight defeat in the face - could have done it in far less stressful circumstances but he will not complain.

The Black and Whites broke Wakefield hearts on a dramatic night at Belle Vue.

Trinity had come back from 20-6 down at half-time to take the game into extra-time with the second of Tom Johnstone’s spectacular one-handed finishes in the 77th minute.

Wakefield fans behind the posts were cheering thinking Max Jowitt’s well-struck touchline kick had sailed between the posts for a lead.

It hadn’t. Instead, the game was locked at 26-26 and the clock ticked down.

It was almost inevitable what would happen next.

Sneyd, who scored Super League’s first-ever Golden Point winner at Wigan last February, knows just what to do.

Hull received possession from the kick-off and made good metres before Albert Kelly cleverly got them within 40m. Two-time Lance Todd Trophy winner Sneyd cooly did the rest.

It was tough on Wakefield who had out-scored Hull five tries to four but Sneyd’s two earlier penalties also proved so crucial.

FC, though, must have thought history was about to repeat itself; they had squandered an 18 point lead to lose with the final play at home to Catalans Dragons on Sunday and Trinity threatened to do similar here.

Veteran centre Ryan Atkins marked his 100th appearance for the club with a brace of tries and there were plenty of other fine performances in Wakefield's ranks.

Their initial fightback began when Jamie Shaul, the otherwise excellent Hull full-back, made a rare error, spilling in the 52nd minute.

Jay Pitts thundered over on a tough carry against his former side and Jowitt converted.

When Hull’s discipline waned once again, Trinity struck once more.

This time, they probed left when Alex Walker entered the line and sucked in defenders before finding Atkins powering back inside on a lovely angle towards the posts.

Jowitt converted to leave his side trailing just 20-18 but Reece Lyne, crucially, made an error in the restart set to give Hull the chance to regain the initiative.

They duly did. Josh Jones looked to be going nowhere as he crabbed crossfield from the left looking for holes to burst through.

The Great Britain back-row did not find one himself but he did pick a perfect short pass for Kelly to arrow onto at pace and surge over from 15m out.

Sneyd improved the 62nd minute effort and Hull - who had seen Manu Ma’u stay off following a second half head knock - could breathe again. Or at least they thought.

However, while ever Johnstone is on the pitch, no opponent can ever truly relax.

The England winger produced yet another of his sublime finishes to somehow get past Fonua and touch down in the 68th minute.

Jowitt’s conversion attempt struck an upright, though, meaning Wakefield needed to score a try to at least draw level.

They applied plenty of pressure, Jacob Miller sliding one kick in to see Shaul concede a drop-out and, from there, Johnstone - selected in Shaun Wane’s England squad this week - came up with his second remarkable score.

It would not be enough.

Hull led at the break following a rather surreal penalty from Sneyd.

With seconds of the half remaining, he tried a long-range drop goal attempt that never really got going.

As the hooter sounded, though, rather than taking the tackle, Johnstone ran the loose ball back and got on the outside of Fonua.

He tried to keep it alive by flinging infield but it only found Gareth Ellis, the Hull veteran who tried to get hold of the ball as Miller found him with a high shot.

It was not the easiest of kicks but Sneyd delivered to leave Trinity further miffed.

The hosts had started in such a positive fashion, looking the brighter and sharper of the two sides in the opening exchanges.

When Fonua spilled coming out of his own 20, Wakefield worked through their set before Atkins dabbed through a kick that he rather hopefully chased down.

It was worth the effort; the veteran centre just touched down before it rolled dead and as Hull dawdled.

Jowitt converted but Fonua quickly atoned for his early error.

After Trinity were penalised for holding down, they worked it close before finding the powerful Tonga international out wide who charged through three defenders.

Sneyd’s first of his successful kicks levelled it and they were in for their second try in the 14th minute.

This time, Fonua turned provider, unusually grubbering ahead - similarly to Atkins - with Shaul having the pace to get on the end of it.

Shaul’s alacrity was plain to see; he produced the first of a number of searing kick-returns soon after and constantly had Wakefield’s defence on edge.

Their third try came after Kelly lofted a kick to the left and Josh Griffin knocked down for Kieran Buchanan to dart over.

The 21-year-old academy product must be pinching himself when he is actually playing.

Just a few weeks ago, he looked like he was sixth in line for a wing spot in Radford’s side.

However, how things can quickly change; with injuries to Ratu Naulago, Adam Swift and Buerata Farimo - as well as Matty Dawson-Jones’ move to Bradford Bulls - he found himself starting last night and he fared well.

Sneyd missed the conversion attempt but slotted a 33rd minute penalty and it was the 29-year-old who came up trumps at the death, too.

Wakefield Trinity: Walker; Tupou, Lyne, Atkins, Johnstone; Miller, Jowitt; Green, Tanginoa, Pitts, Ashurst, Westerman. Substitutes: K Wood, Arona, King, Navarrete.

Hull FC: Shaul; Fonua, Tuimavave, Griffin, Buchanan; Kelly, Sneyd; Taylor, Houghton, Bowde, Jones, Ma’u, Cator. Substitutes: Satae, Sao, Ellis, Johnstone.

Referee: James Child (Dewsbury)