I WAS asked on Friday night to describe this game in one word.

‘Frustrating’ was the one I went for, not just from a Wolves perspective but I’m sure neutrals were expecting more from Super League’s top two.

This certainly wasn’t a spectacle to sell the game, people who tuned in hoping to see the swashbuckling attack both sides have become known for were to be sadly disappointed.

Instead, they ventured down to The Halliwell Jones Stadium or tuned in on television to see a stop-start game punctuated with handling errors, there were 20 dropped balls between the sides in the second half.

Granted, the day’s rain meant conditions were not ideal but you have to expect better from two sides of such high quality.

Wolves were particular culprits, with several chances inside the Hull danger zone bombed due to poor handling and a lack of cohesion in attack.

In the last two weeks, The Wire have looked like scoring every time they entered the opposition half, but there was a distinct lack of cohesion and ruthlessness going forward from the men in primrose and blue.

Their tries were opportunist, with the first coming after just four minutes when Gene Ormsby pounced on a horrendous error from Hull’s Jamie Shaul to score in the corner.

Benjamin Jullien then showed great determination to charge down a Marc Sneyd kick and gallop away before feeding Chris Sandow to slide over.

A second-half Kurt Gidley penalty aside, that was as good as it got for Wolves on a night that will be remembered more for chances missed than those taken.

Daryl Clark, who provided impetus when returning to the field, provided perhaps the worst one as he looked set to pounce on Steve Michaels’ drop but the ball slipped from his grasp with the line beckoning.

Hull weren’t much better, but they took their chances when they came as Fetuli Talanoa finished off a sweeping move before first Mark Minichello and later Gareth Ellis found holes in an otherwise solid Wire defence.

Sneyd was faultless from the kicking tee and a late, long-range drop-goal ensure it would be a disappointing night for the home fans.

With Catalan Dragons making the long trip to Warrington next week, it is clear where Tony Smith’s men need to improve.

STATS SPOT:

. Least points scored at home by The Wire since 28-0 defeat by Wigan last year.

. Wolves drop out of the top two for the first time since February.

. Chris Sandow scores his tenth try of the season, hits double figures for the first time in his career.

MATCH FACTS: Super League Round 18.

Friday, June 10, 2016 Warrington Wolves…12 Hull FC…19.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Tom Lineham, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Gene Ormsby; Kurt Gidley, Chris Sandow; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Benjamin Jullien, Ben Currie, Joe Westerman. Subs: Brad Dwyer, George King, Sam Wilde, Ryan Bailey.

Hull FC: Jamie Shaul; Steve Michaels, Mahe Fonua, Kirk Yeaman, Fetuli Talanoa; Carlos Tuimavave, Marc Sneyd; Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Liam Watts, Mark Minichello, Sika Manu, Gareth Ellis. Subs: Chris Green, Josh Bowden, Frank Pritchard, Danny Washbrook.

Scoring: Ormsby try, 4mins, 4-0; Talanoa try, 13mins, Sneyd goal, 4-6; Sandow try, 19mins, Gidley goal, 10-6; Minichello try, 33mins, Sneyd goal, 10-12; Gidley penalty, 61mins, 12-12; Ellis try, 65mins, Sneyd goal, 12-18; Sneyd drop goal, 78mins, 12-19.

Referee: James Child.

Penalties: Wolves 8 Hull FC 4.

Attendance: 10,513.

Top man: Stefan Ratchford.