A place was up for grabs in the top six as the first game of
round eighteen of Super League 2025 pitched sixth placed Wakefield Trinity at
seventh placed Hull FC with the winner certain to finish the round inside the
play-of places.
The bookies had installed Hull FC as favourites, but only by
two points on the coupon, as most pundits believed that this one was too close
to call before kick-off.
The side had met once previously in 2025, FC taking the
spoils with a four points victory at the end of March.
The opening fifteen minutes were a catalogue of errors as
both sides struggled to control the ball.
Interference at the play the ball on eighteen allowed Max
Jowitt a kick at goal to open the scoring, the Trinity half back kicking from
thirty-five metres for 2-0.
Jowitt added a second penalty goal on thirty-four, this one
much closer to the sticks, to double the lead.
Two minutes later a brilliant break down the centre from
Harvey Smith saw the youngster from inside his own half to the Hull FC twenty
where he found Jowitt in support to take the pass and go over under the sticks.
He added the conversion himself for a ten-point lead.
After fifteen minutes of Hull pressure at the start of the
second half it was Zak Hardaker who finally fought his way over the line and
grounded by the left upright under a pile of Wakefield tacklers. Jack Charles
added the extras, the Airlie Birds now
On fifty-six Sam Ese’ese should have been in for the
equalising score but the pass hit his shoulder and bounced forward, the forward
losing control with the try line open.
Just past the hour, FC went over for their second of the
night to level the scores with a static Jordan Rapana taking the pass ten
metres out, throwing a dummy, and going through the line to score. Charles was
wide with the conversion but at 10-10 it was the home side with the advantage.
A fruitful eleven-minute period for Hull FC saw them take
the lead on sixty-six with Lewis Martin forcing the ball to the ground after he
took a flick pass to push through four Wakefield tacklers and ground. Charles added
the conversion for a 16-10 lead, the awful home record ended after
almost a year without a win on their own midden.
Another game of two halves, becoming the norm in Super
League 2025, saw a steady performance from Wakefield in the first half but then
saw them fold in the second and allow Hull FC to play their game and score the necessary
points to secure a home win. It is Hull who jump into the top six, three points
behind St Helens in fifth but a crucial point ahead of Trinity.
Three hundred and fifty-six days of Hull hurt have come to
an end.
Hull FC: Hardaker (T), Barron, Rapana (T), Litten, Martin (T),
Cust, Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Knight, Cartwright, Chamberlain, Aydin. Subs: Ashworth, Fash, Charles (G 2/3), Eseh.
18th Man: Briscoe (Used).
Wakefield Trinity: Rourke, Walmsley, Hall, Scott, Myers,
Jowitt (T, G 3/3), Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Hamlin-Uele, Griffin, Vagana, Pitts.
Subs: Nikotemo, Doyle, Smith, Faatili. 18th Man: Lingard.
Half-Time: 0-10.
Full-Time: 16-10.
Score Progression: 0-2, 0-4, 0-8, 0-10 : HT: 4-10, 6-10, 10-10,
14-10, 16-10 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Wakefield – Square - FC.
Referee: James Vella.
