Wolves hunt down Hull

Ryan Atkins: opening try

Warrington beat Hull 34-12 to finish the regular season top of Super League - their first table-topping season for 38 years.

The Wolves needed to avoid defeat at the KC Stadium to pip champions Wigan to the League Leaders' Shield and they rarely looked in danger of slipping up.

They ran in six tries - one shy of their Super League average this season - and will head into next week's play-offs full of belief that they can reach Old Trafford for the first time.

Hull came into the game on a run of three straight wins and eyeing a possible fifth-place finish, but despite a fiery opening and fierce commitment throughout, they were no match for the Wolves.

Ryan Atkins put the visitors ahead after five minutes, showing impressive strength to steal the ball in midfield and race away to score.

Richard Horne put Joe Westerman over four minutes later to briefly raise Hull hopes, and they could have gone ahead only for superb defence to drive first Briscoe and then Whiting out in opposite corners.

Chris Riley quickly made Hull pay, sliding in at the corner from Atkins' flick pass and after Willie Manu knocked on close to his own sticks, Michael Monaghan jinked his way over by the posts.

Strength

On the half hour mark, Atkins again displayed his strength in the tackle to break free on the left and send Riley in for his second try.

Hull were battering the Warrington line in the closing moments of the half but Matt King came up with a vital interception and Brett Hodgson broke from dummy half inside his own 20, before sending Chris Bridge racing in from 50 metres out.

Hull spent most of the second half on the offensive but Warrington's defence was impressive as their attack had been in the first period.

The pressure finally paid off when Westerman went over for his second try but the Black and Whites could not gain any momentum from that.

Once Lee Briers' inside pass had put Joel Monaghan over for Warrington's sixth try, both sides seemed content to look ahead to next weekend.

Warrington will get their play-off campaign underway with a home game against Huddersfield - their conquerors last season - on Friday night. Hull look set for a trip to Catalan or Leeds on Saturday or Sunday.