A SIX-MINUTE lead was enough for Hull FC to beat Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

A 74th-minute try by Jamie Shaul sealed an absorbing and climatic showpiece decider, as Wolves suffered a first defeat in a cup final during Tony Smith’s reign.

Wolves were the more threatening of the two sides in the first half and enjoyed more of the territory but every inch was having to be hard-earned - as to be expected in a contest between the current top two teams in Super League.

And that was all in warm, clammy, energy-sapping conditions too.

They turned round 6-0 ahead courtesy of a Matty Russell try and Kurt Gidley conversion.

A Ben Currie try extended the advantage but then Wolves lost their senior playmaker Kurt Gidley to injury and Hull struck back with a Mahe Fonua score improved by Marc Sneyd to leave the game on a knife edge going into the last 10 minutes.

Jamie Shaul finished off a second Hull try from a kick and with Marc Sneyd’s conversion the Humbersiders led for the first time with six minutes remaining.

It proved to be enough.

One belting hit by Joe Westerman on Scott Taylor set the tone as the two sides did their best to gain some ascendancy early on, but the loose forward took his eye off the ball in the 10th minute to spill early on in a promising attack.

Daryl Clark got away on one of his trademark runs from dummy half but after Stefan Ratchford’s kick the ball was returned with gusto by Steve Michaels, only for the winger to be crunched by Chris Hill.

The kicking weapon was then used to full effect by Chris Sandow, whose 40-20 was more like a ’30-10’ to hand Wolves six tackles on the Hull line for the first time after 14 minutes.

A nice move from the scrum saw right winger Rhys Evans crop up in the left-centre position and the Hull defence needed to adjust quickly to keep him out.

Hull survived but they were soon under the cosh again as another Chris Sandow kick forced a repeat set from a Hull drop out.

Joe Westerman slipped a couple of tackles and was then somehow stopped a few feet short by three defenders as Hull once again hung on.

Bang, crash, wallop – that was the arrival of Ben Westwood in defence as Hull tried in vain to stamp some authority on the contest.

Wolves continued to enjoy the best of the territory for a spell but crucially failed to come up with any points.

A relieving penalty allowed Hull FC to turn the tables and Stefan Ratchford needed to be alert to cover a Marc Sneyd grubber kick with Steve Michaels and Mahe Fonua chasing him down.

Wolves were able to launch another attack from a scrum 40 metres out after Fetuli Talanoa spilled a high pass.

Brad Dwyer arrived off the bench earlier than usual, moving in at hooker as Daryl Clark switched to loose forward while Joe Westerman took a breather.

This was a clear sign of intent for The Wire to use fast men against big men in the muggy Wembley heat, looking for long-term gains by soaking up the Hull fuel reserves for later in the game.

Stefan Ratchford attempted to force a pass through quick hands and when the ball was lost Toby King reacted quickly to prevent Fetuli Talanoa escaping.

Then came the deadlock breaker.

Chris Sandow intercepted Frank Pritchard’s laboured pass and Chris Sandow went 80 metres only to be caught by full back Jamie Shaul two metres from the try line.

From the play-the-ball though, Matty Russell darted in and out of the defenders who had scrambled back to the line to just find enough space to diver over in the 34th minute.

It was the first try conceded by Hull in 195 minutes of action, having nilled previous opponents Widnes Vikings and Catalans Dragons.

Kurt Gidley made no mistakes with the extras for a 6-0 lead that had been very hard earned.

Matty Russell caught a knee going down in a tackle a few minutes later but after some treatment he was good to go again.

Fine game management from Kurt Gidley saw him dribble the ball into touch near the Hull line as the clock hit the 39th minute mark.

A potential drop-goal attempt from Chris Sandow on the stroke of half time never materialised as he elected to run the ball instead but Hull were wise to his antics and the move broke down as the hooter sounded.

Wolves’ start to the second half was rougher than it should have been.

Ryan Atkins earned a penalty, first stealing possession one-on-one and then being held down but Kurt Gidley missed his shot at goal from well within his usual range.

From the drop-out, skipper Chris Hill spilled the ball in the tackle and Hull FC got the opportunity they needed to spend some time at the other end of the field.

Brad Dwyer and Stefan Ratchford scrambled to clear the danger from a grubber kick but Hull FC had more possession from the drop out they forced.

For the first time the Wolves goal-line defence was tested beneath the roar of the Black and White supporters in the West Stand.

Scott Taylor came closest to the line but he had bodies clinging on to him for dear life as Wolves withstood the pressure.

Play became frantic with errors by both sides as the next score was clearly going to be crucial in such a tight game that was also looking to be opening up.

Ben Currie chased his own kick ahead only to be squeezed out by desperate defenders but a repeat set was forced courtesy of a drop out.

A surging run by Ryan Atkins only came to an end with three Hull FC defenders held him up over the try line as Wolves sought a try that would give them some breathing space.

And then came try number two.

All that fast man versus big man stuff down the middle paid dividends when Matty Russell gained good ground and then kept the ball alive, as did Chris Hill. And then Daryl Clark sped away and he found Ben Currie in position on the left wing to fly home from 30 metres with Jamie Shaul unable to catch him.

The Wire fans banking up the East Stand of Wembley went berserk with a frenzy of dancing, air punching and singing “It’s Always Our Year.”

Although Kurt Gidley missed the kick from the touchline, Wolves led 10-0 after 55 minutes and all appeared to be going to plan.

But the game was far from over.

Kurt Gidley smashed into Steve Michaels and both ended up needing treatment, the Warrington stand off with blood pouring from a gash above his right eye.

Then Kurt Gidley caught an elbow attempting to tackle second rower Mark Minichiello and was left sprawled on the floor with a cut above his other eye.

Wolves’ Mr Composure and game manager was helped from the field, leaving Joe Westerman to take over in the halves.

It came as a double blow when Hull number seven Marc Sneyd found touch with a 40-20 on the next set to give his side six tackles at the Warrington line.

Scott Taylor was held up by Stefan Ratchford and George King but the response that Hull needed was coming.

Marc Sneyd kicked the Wolves left corner where short men Chris Sandow and Matty Russell were defending and it was too easy for Mahe Fonua to win the ball in the air and dive over.

Sneyd added the conversion from wide out to cut the gap to four points after 62 minutes.

Hull’s tails were up, their fans were decibals louder and The Wire needed to find a way to turn the tide.

But as Ryan Atkins fumbled a fairly straight-forward pass from Chris Sandow Wolves were beginning to look a little rattled and Hull were showing no signs of tiredness.

A kick to the corner from Marc Sneyd was chased down by Stefan Ratchford and Steve Michaels, with neither man winning and the ball running dead after adjudged to come off the Warrington man last.

That handed six more tackles to Hull, their third set in a row but Stefan Ratchford’s hefty boot towards the touchline left Fetuli Talanoa all fingers and thumbs trying to keep the ball in play to give Wolves the feed at the scrum and some much needed relief.

A Stefan Ratchford knock on at a play-the-ball put Wolves in trouble in their own 30 metre area but Hull were being just as wasteful.

Then came Hull’s game-changing play.

Again it came from a Sneyd kick, this time a chipped one knocked backwards by Mahe Fonua and the Hull scrum half gathered in before sending over Jamie Shaul for the match leveller in the 73rd minute.

Sneyd banged over the conversion from almost in front of the posts to put Hull in front for the first time with six minutes to play.

Importantly Wolves got themselves into try-scoring position with Chris Sandow pulling the strings.

Ben Currie looked to have done everything right and was heading for the line in the 78th minute when Danny Houghton clung on to him and the ball squeezed out of the second rower’s control a metre from the line.

With that, Wolves hopes looked dusted but one last throw of the dice on the final tackle of the game kept hopes alive.

It was not to be though, after play was spread from right to left and then back again there was no way through and Hull clung on to win the Challenge Cup.

Marc Sneyd was deemed their match winner, collecting the Lance Todd Trophy in front of 76,235 supporters.

Wolves’ players were left floored at the death.

They had given their all and nobody could ever ask for more.