Super League: Wakefield Wildcats' comeback stuns Hull FC at the KC Stadium
Wakefield scored 23 unanswered second-half points to clinch an improbable 23-16 success over Hull FC at the KC Stadium.
Last Updated: 04/05/14 5:30pm
Everything was going to plan for the Black and Whites as tries from Danny Houghton, Jordan Rankin and Ben Crooks put the home side 16-0 up with 52 minutes played in East Yorkshire.
However, Richard Agar's men turned the game on its head courtesy of tries from Richie Mathers, Daniel Smith, Matt Ryan and Jarrod Sammut with Paul Sykes' drop-goal adding the icing on a sweet cake.
After an uneventful opening Wakefield were caught in possession on halfway on the last tackle and that laid the platform for Hull to break the deadlock on 18 minutes, Houghton receiving a brilliant offload by Josh Bowden to go under the sticks.
The Black and Whites continued to enjoy the better of proceedings and they looked to have extended their lead when Dean Hadley touched down after a kick was fumbled in Wakefield's in-goal, only for referee Tim Roby to pull them back for a knock-on.
Hull did not have to wait long for their second try as Aaron Heremaia cut Wakefield open down the middle before passing inside to give Rankin a clear run to the line for his seventh try of the season.
Crooks made it two from two with the boot to give the home side a 12-0 half-time lead.
Not so fortunate
Wakefield were given a let-off at the start of the second half when Chris Tuson knocked on as he attempted to put the ball over the line but they were not so fortunate just minutes later.
Jamie Shaul got on the outside of his man and squeezed a questionable pass out to Crooks who juggled before touching the ball down in the corner.
The Wildcats responded positively and gave themselves hope in the 57th minute when Mathers crossed out wide after good play by Danny Kirmond and Matt Ryan.
Both sides were temporarily reduced to 12 men after Jason Crookes and Chris Riley traded blows and that altercation appeared to lift the visitors further.
A barnstorming run by Smith ended with him plonking the ball over the line before Walshaw went over in the corner after a break by former Hull forward Danny Washbrook on his 200th career appearance.
Sammut landed the conversion from out wide to level the score at 16-16 and set up a thrilling final 15 minutes.
Harry Siejka sent a drop goal wide and Crooks did likewise with a penalty before Sammut went over at the end of a sparkling passage of play by the Wildcats with eight minutes remaining.
Sykes sent over a drop goal from range to seal the points for Agar's men.