Wildcats leave it late
Wakefield Wildcats scored 22 unanswered second-half points to stun Hull FC 32-30 at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.
Last Updated: 10/06/12 6:15pm
Wakefield Wildcats scored 22 unanswered second-half points to stun Hull FC 32-30 at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.
The Black and Whites looked home and dry with 46 minutes played after Kirk Yeaman's second try of the game put the visitors 30-10 up.
However, Wakefield refused to throw in the towel and tries from Paul Sykes, Danny Washbrook and Kyle Amor moved them within touching distance before Ali Lauitiiti clinched the two points.
Hull had wasted countless chances to put St Helens away a week earlier and started in a similar manner as they went empty-handed despite camping inside the Wakefield half.
It took a moment of magic from star second-row Willie Manu to finally break the deadlock - the Tongan warming up for next week's Exiles game against England with a try that demonstrated the task in hand for Steve McNamara's men.
Danny Tickle's conversion and penalty minutes later put Hull eight points clear and their advantage was stretched to 14 points when Brett Seymour made the most of Vince Mellars' missed tackle to stroll through the Wakefield defence and score.
Trouble
The Wildcats were having trouble getting out of their own half, but when Hull loose-forward Joe Westerman was put on report for a tackle on Oli Wilkes, the hosts took full advantage of their field position.
In-form scrum-half Tim Smith provided the pinpoint kick, with centre Dean Collis providing the finish in the corner as he touched down to give Wakefield a way back into the game.
Hull hit straight back through teenage winger Ben Crooks, but it was Wakefield who were finishing the half the stronger of the two sides and when the Hull defence missed a series of tackles through the middle of the pitch winger Peter Fox was on hand to break free and race 40 metres to score under the posts.
Wakefield will have taken heart from Fox's try as they started the second half, but within six minutes they found themselves trailing by 20 points after a quick-fire double for Hull centre Yeaman, making his return from three months on the sidelines following foot surgery.
Hull looked like running away with the game, but Wakefield were not done and again came back with Paul Sykes taking advantage after a deflected kick to score.
Ascendancy
Former Hull player Washbrook shrugged off a tackle by Seymour to score and the hosts were in the ascendancy and sniffing victory at only eight points behind.
A remarkable 10-minute period for Wakefield was then capped when Kyle Amor powered his way over the try line under the Hull posts.
Hull were out on their feet and when hooker Danny Houghton and half-back Jamie Ellis hobbled off they looked there for the taking.
Wakefield knew that and after continuing to press they got their reward when Sykes sent Lauitiiti over to give them the lead for the first time with seven minute remaining.
A nervous finish ensued but, with Hull unable to get their hands on the ball, Wakefield were able to hold on for a memorable victory.