GUARDIAN VERDICT: Warrington Wolves 24 Hull FC 12 (From Warrington Guardian)

GUARDIAN VERDICT: Warrington Wolves 24 Hull FC 12

6:40am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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EVERYONE is thinking the same.

At some point, Tony Smith’s Warrington Wolves are going to dish out an absolute hammering.

Perhaps it will come at The Brewery Field against Celtic Crusaders on Saturday, or maybe Wolves are saving it for the visit of St Helens live on television on July 11.

But the signs were there as Wolves continued their winning streak on Sunday against Hull FC.

As has been the case since the 58-22 success at Bradford Bulls in April, Wolves keep on winning most of their games but without getting it together for 80 minutes.

Their second-half displays have been better than first-half performances and against Hull there was a brief second-half purple patch that turned out to be enough to seal their fifth win in six outings.

Those moments of razzle-dazzle, following a dour opening 40 minutes in humid conditions, were inspired by some player switches as Wolves sought the best formula for coping without the services of injured stand off Lee Briers and impact hooker Mickey Higham.

Jon Clarke and Chris Bridge moved into the halves, while Simon Grix was on the sidelines with a knee injury, but it was Michael Monaghan’s scurries from dummy half after moving in at hooker that really allowed Wolves to seize control.

His angled dart allowed Paul Wood to touch down the try that put Wolves ahead for the first time in the 45th minute.

The Australian started the break that almost allowed Chris Bridge to grubber-kick his way to the line moments later before Vinnie Anderson sent Matt King away for the second try in seven minutes.

Monaghan’s scoot and Vinnie Anderson’s pass then rewarded Ben Harrison’s fine performance with a try as Wolves turned 6-6 into 24-6 in an 11-minute spell.

Wolves’ solid defence had such a command of Hull’s attack that the 18-point lead was always going to be enough to secure the points, although Kirk Yeaman was able to complete the scoring with a simple 61st minute try.

The second-half Monaghan display made up for a first 40 minutes which included some wayward kicking and giving away an interception try to Jodie Broughton.

But he was not the only Wolves player who failed to shine in the first-half sun, which was creating so much heat that it almost looked as if it had encouraged the players to keep something in reserve for later in the game.

While some players wilted in the final moments of the first half, Wolves scored the try of the game.

Richie Mathers, looking stronger every week in the full back spot, did the damage with his footwork around the ruck and after haring 40 metres he lobbed the ball over covering Motu Tony’s head for supporting Chris Riley to finish off the final 40 metres in style.

It was a score that lifted the roof off The Halliwell Jones Stadium and gave fans hope of more of the same in the second 40 minutes.

They only got 11 minutes but it was 11 minutes to remember.

Match facts

Warrington Wolves 24 Hull FC 12

Wolves: Richie Mathers; Chris Hicks (4g), Chris Bridge, Matt King (1t), Chris Riley (1t); Simon Grix, Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Garreth Carvell, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison (1t). Subs: Paul Johnson, Mike Cooper, Vinnie Anderson, Paul Wood (1t).

Hull: Motu Tony; Gareth Raynor, Graeme Horne, Kirk Yeaman (1t), Jodie Broughton (1t); Richard Horne, Tommy Lee; Ewan Dowes, Shaun Berrigan, Lee Radford, Mike Burnett, Willie Manu, Danny Tickle (2g). Subs: Richard Whiting, Jamie Thackray, Danny Houghton, Paul King.

Referee: Steve Ganson.

Scoring: Monaghan’s pass to Bridge is intercepted and Broughton races home unopposed from 70 metres, 26mins, Tickle converts, 0-6; Mathers breaks clear and defeats Tony with an inside pass for Riley to complete 80m move, 39mins, Hicks converts, 6-6; Monaghan darts at the line and flips up a perfect pass for Wood to stroll over from close range, 45mins, Hicks converts, 12-6; King accepts Vinnie Anderson pass and hands off Graeme Horne before powering over from 20 metres, 52mins, Hicks converts, 18-6; Monaghan gets away and finds Vinnie Anderson in support before Harrison takes the final pass and gallops to the line from 20 metres, 56mins, Hicks converts, 24-6; Kirk Yeaman slips over to make Wolves pay for conceding a penalty for interference, 61mins, Tickle converts.

Pens: Wolves 3 Hull 2.

Attendance: 9,170.

Warrington Guardian top men: King 3pts, Harrison 2pts, Monaghan 1pt.

Interesting note: For the first time this season Wolves have now won as many Super League games as they have lost.

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