By IAN JUDSON
HULL FC concluded their home season with an agonising defeat against in-form Warrington Wolves at the MKM Stadium.
The Airlie Birds gave every ounce of guts and determination in a dramatic match, but were just unable to chase down the Wire.
The Black & Whites came roaring back from a harsh 14-point deficit, but couldn’t quite finish the way which they would have richly deserved.
Interim coach Andy Last made minimal changes to the team that beat Catalans Dragons in Perpignan last time out.
Tom Briscoe started his final home game for the Airlie Birds at centre having come off the bench the previous week with Arthur Romano dropping to the bench.
Lloyd Kemp came in on the bench to replace Will Hutchinson and otherwise it was as you were for the visit of Warrington, the current employers of incoming head coach Steve McNamara.
A minute’s silence for Sir Billy Boston was impeccably observed by players, coaches and fans before kick off after the rugby league legend passed away during the week at the age of 92.
Warrington centre Arron Lindop had to go off for a head injury assessment and subsequently Joe Batchelor was sent to the sin-bin for the challenge on him.
The visitors were then handed another penalty for offside in Hull’s danger zone but some spirited defence held them out.
Warrington continued to play the early stages at breakneck pace as they returned a Jake Arthur kick, but a knock-on handed Hull some much needed possession.
Joe Batchelor returned to the action with no damage done on the scoreboard, then Warrington thought they had forced a goal line drop out, but a successful captain’s challenge changed the decision and hand the Airlie Birds a penalty instead.
Warrington continued to press Hull’s defence and subsequently forced back-to-back goal line drop outs on the Black & Whites, the second of which didn’t reach the ten metre mark.
Hull were then forced to deal with more pressure from back-to-back set restarts before a penalty gave Williams the chance to put the visitors into a slender lead.
Hull were handed an opportunity in the Wolves danger zone thanks to a set restart before Aidan Sezer brought the scores level with a subsequent penalty.
Both sides were trading mistakes with particularly lost ball being a large feature in the second quarter of the proceedings.
Eventually the Wolves took a thoroughly undeserved lead as Leon Hayes pounced on a mistake from a kick to score, Williams added the extras just five minutes before half time.
Matty Ashton then extended the lead as Hull failed to deal with another kick, just crossing in the corner for a ten-point difference that felt very harsh on the home side.
Hull were handed a penalty from the restart as Herman Ese’Ese had the ball stripped from his grasp, which was then further punished by another ten metres for dissent.
Hull forced consecutive goal line drop outs with kicks by Sezer and Jake Arthur having to be forced dead by a desperate defence.
A hard challenge by Ligi Sao then handed Warrington a penalty and caused a fight to breakout on the pitch before the Samoan forward was sent to the sin-bin.
However, it was the visitors who put themselves under more pressure with a ball loss, followed by a penalty and then losing possession again.
More drama ensued as Arthur Romano chased a Jake Arthur kick but was seemingly taken out off the ball, but as before, the decision went the way of Warrington.
Warrington were then handed territory and possession and Josh Thewlis grabbed another try to make it a three-score lead.
The video referee was called into action again as Thewlis appeared to lose the ball behind the Wolves try line with Harvey Barron competing for the ball, but he was deemed to have grounded it before the Hull winger could.
Hull finally got the try they deserved as a frantic passing move involving Tom Briscoe and Jake Arthur was rounded off by Ethan O’Neill, Sezer reduced the deficit further with the boot.
A penalty from halfway put Hull on the front foot again and Tom Briscoe crossed for Hull’s second try in as many minutes, Sezer’s boot made it a two-point ball game.
A debatable penalty then robbed Hull of their momentum and put the Wolves within striking distance, but heroic defending kept them at bay.
Hull’s brave attempt was finally brought to an agonising finish with a dropped ball with less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
