Monday, 29 August 2016

Challenge Cup Final Review

Hull FC came from behind to secure the 2016 Challenge Cup and claim a first success at Wembley with a 12-10 win over Warrington Wolves.

Both sides started the game well with very few errors and penalties conceded in the opening stages and it was a case of two great defences in scorching heat as the half went on.The game looked to set to be all square going into half-time but with five minutes left of the first 40, Chris Sandow raced clear after intercepting a Frank Pritchard pass only to be caught by a superb chase from Jamie Shaul.

The next play saw Matty Russell cross for the opening score with Kurt Gidley converting for a 6-0 lead. The slim lead could have been extended in the final seconds of the half but Sandow chose to go for a run over a potential drop goal chance leaving FC just one score behind at the interval.

Warrington had a great chance to boost their lead less than two minutes after the restart but Gidley clipped the penalty attempt past the post. The Wolves did extend the lead though with 54 minutes on the clock as Daryl Clark picked out Ben Currie who raced over out wide but Gidley was unable to convert at 0-10.

A superb 40/20 from Marc Sneyd gave FC great field position and the final tackle of the set saw Sneyd kick high for Mahe Fonua to collect and stretch over the line before Sneyd converted for 6-10 with 18 minutes left. Sneyd provided again with a clever dink forward which resulted in Fonua finding Jamie Shaul who crossed to put FC level at 10-10. Sneyd converted to give FC a 12-10 lead with just four minutes to go.

Warrington went achingly close in the final two minutes but superb defence from Danny Houghton denied Ben Currie as the Black and Whites survived to claim a first ever Wembley triumph.

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