sportingFACTIONS :: Code XIII

SLXIV Round 18: June 28th, 2009
Ian Bridge at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Warrington 24 [6]
Hull FC 12 [6]
Summary
29        Jodie Broughton try        0-4
        Danny Tickle goal 1/1        0-6
39        Chris Riley        4-6
        Chris Hicks goal 1/1        6-6
        HALF TIME
45        Paul Wood try        10-6
        Chris Hicks goal 2/2        12-6
50        Matt King try        16-6
        Chris Hicks goal 3/3        18-6
52        Ben Harrison try        22-6
        Chris Hicks goal 4/4        24-6
60        Kirk Yeakman try        24-10
        Danny Tickle goal 2/2        24-12
        FULL TIME
REPORT
A searing break by fullback, Richie Mathers, was enough to steady the rocking Wolves and ignite a 15 minute second half blitz as they rallied from 6-0 down to win 24-6. Although in truth the highlight of this game was Wolfies’ dead-dog act after Hull FC’s interception try; pure comedy.

Two stunning long-range tries and two buffer-busting tackles punctuated an uneventful opening half. But the Wolves looked to have seized the momentum at the half courtesy of Mathers’ searing 70m dash and an over-the-head pass that ended with Chris Riley sliding in at the left corner. Chris Hicks’ touchline conversion tied the score as the hooter sounded.

Hull were left to rue squandering the best chance of a tight opening quarter; quick hands crafted an overlap inside the Wolves’ 20, only for Graeme Horne’s sloppy pass to bobble into touch, leaving Gareth Raynor with no chance to collect it.

That and a stunning Matt King tackle on Motu Tony were all that troubled the memory banks until the 30th minute, and Hull’s opening score. In striving yet again to engineer an overlap on the Warrington right, Michael Monaghan flung a long and telegraphed pass that was plucked out of the air by Jodie Broughton and returned 75 metres the opposite way for a try, leaving an easy conversion for Danny Tickle.

Only a real train-stopper of a hit by Hull’s Jamie Thackray illuminated the rest of the half though, until that mesmerising break by Mathers.

The Wolves sealed the game with three second-half tries in a sizzling 15 minute spell before settling back into mundanity. And although Hull nabbed a late consolation try from Kirk Yeaman, they never threatened more.

First of the second half tries came for prop Paul Wood, with Monaghan evenening-up his account, making a telling break and a neat offload to send him barrelling over. Hicks converted.

Two touchdowns in two dizzy minutes then killed off the visitors’ dwindling hopes. King’s bewildering dummy was enough to stand-up Horne and enable the big Aussie to skip in at the left corner.

Then Vinnie Anderson put the icing on the cake, linking with Monaghan, then breaking clear from halfway and sending Ben Harrison careering over at the same corner. It was game-up for the visitors as Hicks added his fourth conversion.
TEAMS:
Wolves
30 Mathers, 23 Hicks, 25 Bridge, 4 King, 19 Riley, 20 Grix, 7 Monaghan, 8 Morley, 9 Clarke, 16 Carvell, 11 L Anderson, 12 Westwood, 24 Harrison
Subs (all used): 15 Wood, 18 Cooper, 13 V Anderson, 2 Johnson

Tries:         Riley (39), Wood (45), King (50), Harrison (52)
Goals:        Hicks 4/4
Hull FC
1 Tony, 29 Broughton, 17 G Horne, 4 Yeaman, 5 Raynor, 6 R Horne, 23 Lee, 8 Dowes, 9 Berrigan, 11 Radford, 22 Burnett, 16 Manu, 12 Tickle
Subs (all used): 20 Houghton, 14 Whiting, 19 King, 18 Thackray

Tries:        Broughton (29), Yeaman (60)
Goals:        Tickle 2/2
Men of the match
Wolves:        Michael Monaghan
MATCH FACTS
Half-time:        6-6
Full-time:        24-12
Referee:        S Ganson
Attendance:        9,170