Wakefield Trinity 72 Hull FC 10: Super Trin' thrash Hull to bag 8s spot

WAKEFIELD TRINITY ended their Hull hoodoo in spectacular and record style to secure a third successive appearance in the Betfred Super-8s and send Leeds Rhinos into the Qualifiers for the second time in three seasons.
David FifitaDavid Fifita
David Fifita

Trinity went into the game knowing a win would seal their place in Super League’s top-eight with one game in hand, but facing opposition they hadn’t beaten in three years and eight meetings.

It looked like a tricky assignment against a Hull team boosted by the return from injury of four key players and the visitors did cause Trinity some problems, but only after they had gone 72-0 behind!

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At that stage, with 15 minutes left, the century looked possible, but Hull stemmed the flow and grabbed two tries themselves.

David Fifita, of Wakefield Trinity, celebrates after scoring a try.David Fifita, of Wakefield Trinity, celebrates after scoring a try.
David Fifita, of Wakefield Trinity, celebrates after scoring a try.

Even so, the 72-10 result was Wakefield’s highest Super League score and the most points conceded by Hull in the competition.

Wakefield scored six tries in the first half, racing into a 38-0 interval lead and doubled that tally after the break.

Marksman Ryan Hampshire had a superb day with the boot, missing only one of 13 shots at goal.

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It was one-way traffic from the 12th minute when Tom Johnstone celebrated his new four-year contract by strolling over from Max Jowitt’s cut-out pass.

Jacob MillerJacob Miller
Jacob Miller

That came after Hull centre Jack Logan turned the ball over near his own line.

Hampshire, who had booted Trinity ahead with a second minute penalty goal after Hull were penalised in possession in front of their own posts, landed a touchline conversion.

Hull’s Scott Taylor got over the line after 17 minutes, but Jowitt and Jacob Miller got underneath to prevent him touching down.

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Then Ben Jones-Bishop made a half-break after catching an attacking kick, was held down and in the set from the penalty big David Fifita rampaged clear for a stunning try.

Pauli Pauli goes overPauli Pauli goes over
Pauli Pauli goes over

Fifita held Jordan Abdull up over Wakefield’s line and, for the second-time, it was a 12-point turnaround as Wakefield grabbed their third try within moments.

Bureta Faraimo’s last ditch tackle kept Bill Tupou out following Matty Ashurst’s break, but then Jansin Turgut became the latest Hull player to knock-on close to his own line and Miller twisted over in the next set. It was 20-0 after 26 minutes and things got even better for Trinity as they scored three tries in the final five minutes of the half. Mickey Paea knocked on in his own territory, Carlos Tuimavave was penalised for interference and Pauli Pauli exploited some weak defence to cross.

Hull tried a short restart, knocked on – inevitably – and were then penalised and marched 10 metres for dissent, paving the way for former Hull centre Reece Lyne to exploit more poor tackling.

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As the hooter sounded, Lyne shrugged off more disinterested attempted tackles and offloaded to James Batchelor to scored Wakefield’s sixth try.

Celebrations after Reece Lyne, of Wakefield Trinity, scores a try.Celebrations after Reece Lyne, of Wakefield Trinity, scores a try.
Celebrations after Reece Lyne, of Wakefield Trinity, scores a try.

To their huge credit, there was no slacking off from Trinity after the break.

Ashurst was held up over the line before Jones-Bishop pounced on an error by Fetuli Talanoa and raced clear from deep inside his own half.

A brilliant Hampshire offload was finished by Jowitt, Miller hacked on twice and went over following Logan’s knock-on and then Lyne added his second and Hampshire’s 10th goal made it 60-0 with a quarter of the game remaining.

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Jones-Bishop turned a kick by Hampshire into a try and Pauli went over for his second, before Liam Harris and Bureta Faraimo – who added a conversion – ruined the clean sheet.

Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Tupou, Johnstone, Miller, Hampshire, Hirst, Randell, Fifita, Ashurst, Batchelor, Horo. Subs Wood, Pauli, Huby, Arona.

Hull: Shaul, Fararaimo, Logan, Tuimavave, Talanoa, Abdull, Sneyd, Matongo, Houghton, Taylor, Hadley, Turgut, Westerman. Subs Paea, Downs, Fash, Harris.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).

Attendance: 5,634.

Fouhad Yaha scored four tries as Catalans Dragons booked their place in the Super 8s with a 44-10 win over Salford on Saturday.