Warrington held off a spirited challenge from Hull FC to book their place in next month’s Challenge Cup final and ensure a second successive appearance in rugby league’s showpiece event. 12 months on from their Wembley defeat to Catalans Dragons, the Wolves will have a chance to atone for that in four weeks’ time after emerging through a thrilling semi-final in Bolton.
Steve Price’s side appeared well-placed for a more comfortable victory midway through the second half, after forging a two-score lead courtesy of Toby King’s try which, coupled with a Stefan Ratchford conversion, made it 16-8. Scott Taylor’s late try for Hull produced a grandstand finish in the closing moments, but Warrington survived the dramatic finale to book their place at Wembley.
The Wolves were the better team for large periods of the first half, and they led by two at half-time after tries from Bryson Goodwin and Ben Currie, with Hull’s only try in response a remarkable team effort eventually finished by Bureta Faraimo. Two penalties from the boot of Marc Sneyd either side of that try – which were understandable, given the horrendous conditions – kept Hull in contention too.
However, when King claimed a wonderful Blake Austin kick to touch down early in the second half, it put Warrington well and truly in control. Hull had to score next, and while the Wolves did hold the Black and Whites out for a prolonged period, eventually, the more direct route to the line proved to be the key to unlock their defence as Taylor charged over, with Sneyd’s conversion reducing the gap to two.
Yet while Hull further piled the pressure on in the closing minutes in a bid to complete a remarkable comeback, an error deep in their own half enabled Joe Philbin to kick through and guarantee Warrington’s place at Wembley for the second consecutive season.
