Hull FC 21-12 Warrington: Marc Sneyd shines in arctic conditions
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 02/03/18 10:33pm
A player from each side was sent off as Hull repelled a second-half fightback from Warrington to return to winning ways with a 21-12 Super League triumph on a bitterly cold night at the KCOM Stadium.
The Wolves trekked across the Pennines by train and coach to ensure the survival of this fixture and they must have wondered if it was worth the effort when they trailed 18-0.
The visitors also played the last 32 minutes with 12 men following the dismissal of stand-off Dec Patton, but fought back with two tries in three minutes to earn a lifeline.
Hull, who also finished a man down after prop Liam Watts was shown a red card for a head butt, were indebted to the marksmanship of Marc Sneyd, who kicked six goals from as many attempts and capped the win with a drop goal.
The versatile Jake Connor helped offset the absence of stand-off Albert Kelly, while centre Carlos Tuimavave was impressive on his first appearance of the season.
Warrington, who were without England duo Kevin Brown and Ben Currie, applied the early pressure with hooker Daryl Clark running through the heart of the Hull defence and half-backs Patton and Tyrone Roberts causing problems with their tactical kicking.
But the Black and Whites held firm and with full-back Jamie Shaul chiming into the attack with great effect, they gradually began to impose themselves on the Wolves' defence.
Sneyd put them ahead with the first of three penalties after centre Toby King, an early replacement for a limping Bryson Goodwin, was pulled up for an incorrect play-the-ball.
A 40-20 kick from Connor then created field position for the game's first try.
Second-rower Sika Manu, who missed Hull's defeat at Castleford after visiting cyclone-hit Tonga, was held up over the line but was quickly on hand to get winger Bureta Faraimo over in the corner after Connor palmed Sneyd's high kick to the line.
Sneyd added the conversion and further punished Warrington's indiscipline with another penalty to make it 10-0 at the break.
Substitute Brad Fash went close with a barnstorming run early in the second-half as Hull picked up from where they left off in the first-half and there appeared to be no way back for the visitors when Patton was sent off for a swinging arm on Faraimo.
Hull lost the winger with a head knock as a result of the foul but Sneyd increased their lead with the resultant penalty.
And the home side took advantage of the extra man on 52 minutes when Tuimavave cut a superb line to race over from Fetuli Talanoa's pass to score their second try.
Sneyd maintained his 100 per cent record to open up an 18-0 lead but the Wolves found their second wind to give themselves a chance.
Full-back Stefan Ratchford got second-rower Jack Hughes charging through a gap for one try and then veteran Bennie Westwood squeezed a pass out of the tackle for centre Ryan Atkins to go over.
Ratchford kicked both conversions to bring his side to within six points, but Sneyd landed his fourth penalty 10 minutes from the end to give his side a two-score cushion.
It was 12-a-side for the last seven minutes after Watts was sent off for head-butting Dom Crosby, but Hull comfortably held onto their lead and Sneyd added a drop goal for good measure.
