Super League: Warrington Wolves bag first win of new season against Hull
Warrington held off a second-half fightback from Hull FC to secure their first points of the season with an 18-16 win.
Last Updated: 02/03/14 6:12pm
The Wolves had lost their opening two games against St Helens and Leeds but got off the mark at the third attempt as they held off a determined challenge from the visitors.
Wolves full-back Stefan Ratchford finished with a personal tally of 10 points after a try and three goals, while Warrington's other tries came from Trent Waterhouse and Ben Evans, with all the home side's points coming in the first half.
Hull, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats after their opening-day win over Catalan, replied with tries from Danny Houghton and Tom Lineham with Ben Crooks landing one conversion.
Fetuli Talanoa's try and a Crooks conversion three minutes from time reduced Warrington's lead to just two points to set up a grandstand finish but Lee Radford's side just could not peg the Wolves back.
The home side opened the scoring after just five minutes when on the sixth tackle Richie Myler's delicate kick was pounced upon by Ratchford to touch down, and the try-scorer added the conversion.
Hull, who had twice cut through the Wolves defence without gaining any reward in the opening exchanges, drew level after 12 minutes when following a powerful charge prop Mickey Paea was stopped just short. A quick dart from acting half saw hooker Houghton crash over and Ben Crooks converted to level matters at six apiece.
The home side regained the lead seven minutes later when following some sustained pressure on the Hull line it was a quick dart and pass from Micky Higham that allowed Trent Waterhouse to score and edge the Wolves back in front at 10-6.
Sin bin
A superb break by Ratchford from his own line saw the Warrington full-back sprint 60 metres before being hauled down by Hull counterpart Jamie Shaul, who then held on for far too long and referee James Child had no option but to show the yellow card and send him to the sin bin.
Hull looked like weathering the storm while down to 12 men but in the final minute of Shaul being off the field Warrington struck again for their third try of the half when Gareth O'Brien's kick allowed Evans to win the race to the loose ball over the line and touch down.
Ratchford added the conversion and in the final seconds of the half he kicked a 30-metre penalty to give the Wolves an 18-6 half-time advantage.
A heavy downpour at the start of the second half made conditions tough but Hull started the second period the better and Shaul was denied by a try-saving tackle by Joel Monaghan.
At the other end Lineham came to Hull's rescue when the power of his tackle forced the ball from Ormsby's grasp as he looked to dive over in the corner.
Hull got themselves back into the game on the hour mark when some slick passing by Joe Westerman and Richard Horne created the space for Lineham to dive over in the corner to make it 18-10.
Horne was held up over the line for Hull and it was the same at the other end as Roy Asotasi was denied for the Wolves.
Hull set up a thrilling final when with three minutes remaining Aaron Heremaia's pass sent Talanoa over in the corner, and Crooks landed a fine touchline conversion to cut the deficit to just two points, but Warrington hung on.