Hull, Wolves share spoils
Ben Westwood missed a last-minute conversion attempt as Warrington and Hull played out a 20-20 draw in their Super League opener.
Last Updated: 05/02/12 5:28pm
Ben Westwood missed a last-minute conversion attempt as Warrington and Hull played out a 20-20 draw in their Super League opener.
Westwood's failed attempt meant the visiting Wolves left the KC Stadium cursing one dropped point following a hard-fought match played in sub-zero conditions.
Both sides had threatened to win the game and held the ascendancy, with Hull thankful to two Danny Tickle tries for handing them a second-half lead which they looked like holding on to, but Rhys Evans' 78th-minute try levelled the scores before Westwood's missed kick ensured an entertaining draw.
Feeling hospitable, Hull gifted Warrington two tries in the first-half which ensured their hard work was wiped away and they went in at the break with a deficit they had not deserved.
New coach Peter Gentle's men had opened the new era in style with a try inside just three minutes as England centre Kirk Yeaman finished off a sweeping move out wide.
It would be a short-lived lead and when the Black and Whites' new full-back Wade McKinnon spilled the ball behind his own try line, Warrington's fellow debutant Trent Waterhouse was on hand for the simplest of tries.
While Hull had scrum-half Brett Seymour out injured, Warrington coach Tony Smith had surprised everyone by leaving out Lee Briers from his side.
Onslaught
But, with Stefan Ratchford arriving from Salford at the end of last season to renew his partnership with fellow ex-City Reds half-back Richie Myler, the Wolves have a youthful combination to take them forward.
And doing just that was one of the more familiar faces in back-row in Simon Grix who was Hull's chief tormentor.
Needing only the slightest invitation to make easy metres down field, Warrington again made Hull pay for their deficiencies and when Grix burst through the defensive line it was left to Rhys Williams to touchdown in the corner and hand Warrington the lead.
Tickle's try just before half-time brought the scores level and an even half of rugby looked to have born out an even scoreboard, but after Joe Westerman knocked the ball on from the restart again Warrington took full advantage, with Grix this time on hand to go over the try line.
Hull's generosity affected the scoreboard, but not apparently their self belief and returning from the break they hit Warrington with two tries in 10 minutes as first Tom Briscoe and then Tickle again scored to give the hosts a narrow four point advantage.
And that was how it would stay as the clock ticked down and both teams began to show their nerves in desperately trying to start the season with two valuable points. Warrington threw all they had at Hull, whose defence stood admirably firm under the onslaught.
But then with just two minutes left on the clock Warrington did find a way through and when Hull failed to wrap up Grix in the tackle, his off-load started a move out wide which put Evans in.
It was left to Westwood to attempt a conversion that would win his side the game but perhaps fittingly he watched his attempt spiral wide as both sides were rewarded for a hard-fought game with a point each.
