Hull FC scored eight tries as they cruised to a third victory of the season against Warrington Wolves Under 18s at the University of Hull on Saturday afternoon.
Manoa Wacokecoke and Lewis Martin both scored braces as Hull ran in five unanswered second half tries as they returned to the top of the Academy Championship table.
There were also tries for Nick Staveley, Sully Medforth, Lennon Bursell and Zach Jebson.
The Match
Having faced some considerable pressure within the first eight minutes, Hull FC were responding with some staunch defence. But that was eventually breached when Aiden Doolan found Noah High with a short, flat pass for the loose forward to gallop over underneath the posts.
As Hull looked for a response, they were often guilty of coughing up possession too cheaply, but Owen Worthington took it upon himself to build some pressure by forcing a goal-line drop-out with a smart grubber kick, well chased down by Martin on the wing. Worthington was again involved in the resulting goodball set when he orchestrated a tidy move to put Martin in at the corner.
Hull took the lead from the first set following the restart and it was former Warrington youngster Staveley who angled his run over the try line on the last play.
It looked as though the Black & Whites were in again when Denive Balmforth tipped the ball on to Matty Laidlaw to crash over under the sticks, but the touch judge spotted a ball-handling error from the front rower and the try was chalked off, despite a lack of protestation from the nearby Warrington players.
But Hull did have their third try of the afternoon when Medforth demonstrated his ball-running ability to dart over under the uprights just shy of half-time.
HALF-TIME: Hull 16-6 Wolves
A strong start to the second half from Warrington would have concerned Michael Shenton just after the break, particularly when the deficit was cut to just four as Jamie Reddecliff bounced off the post pad and dotted the ball down.
But that was as good as Warrington’s second half got. For the second time in the game, Hull scored off the back of pressure built through a drop out when Bursell burrowed over from close range.
The Black & Whites went into cruise control when Balmforth showed soft hands to put Wacokecoke through a hole.
Balmforth made it a third assist minutes later when Jebson latched onto the end of a bullet pass from the hooker.
Hull weren’t finished there, though, and neither was Wacokecoke. Often barging his way over, this time the Fijian deceived the opposition with some tidy footwork to dance his way over the try line.
With the victory secured, Hull also provided evidence of their defensive strength in the late stages. Even when under pressure on their own try line, the Black & Whites were able to score one more try before the full-time whistle as Martin intercepted a pass out wide and raced 95 metres to finish in style.
It saw Hull FC’s youngsters make it three wins in their first three games of the Academy Championship season, the perfect tonic ahead of an Academy Derby against Hull KR Under 18s on Good Friday.
FULL-TIME: Hull 38-12 Wolves
Squads & Scorers
Hull: Opie-Palmer, Masike, Jebson, Wacokcoke, Martin, Medforth, Worthington, Laidlaw, Balmforth, Staveley, Wright, Bursell, Armstrong
Hull Interchanges: Dulson, Mafi, Wainwright-Matson, Yeaman
Hull Tries: Martin (2), Staveley, Medforth, Bursell, Wacokecoke (2), Jebson
Hull Goals: Medforth (3/8)
Wolves: Booth, J Hartill, Darbyshire, Thewlis, Lynch, Hayes, Scott, Green, Doolan, Reddecliff, Tupaea, Holroyd, High
Wolves Interchanges: Bardsley-Rowe, B Hartill, Marshall, Simpson
Wolves Tries: Hill, Reddecliff
Wolves Goals: Hayes (2/2)
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