Ninth played host to fifth as an embattled Warrington Wolves looked to return to winning ways against a Hull FC side seeking to cement their top five spot and establish some breathing space ahead of the red side of the city.
The Wolves haven´t won a game since the 23rd April, just over two months ago, when the beat the Huddersfield Giants having lost the previous week against tonight´s opposition but it was the home side who were favourites for the win with the bookies, the Airlie Birds getting a six point start on the coupon.
The most nervous man in the house was Wolves coach Daryl Powell who knew that he was living on borrowed time, if not with the board, then definitely with the disgruntled fans.
It was pedestrian but end to end first half but neither side really troubled the whitewash with plenty of mistakes and a lack of imagination on the last tackle. There was no real scoring opportunity with nervousness from both sides.
With five minutes of the half remaining FC had the best chance of the game but Danny Houghton spilled the ball close to the line.
The only real talking points from the half were injuries, Hull losing Adam Swift (ankle) and Luke Gale (failing a Head Impact Assessment), and Joe Philbin helped off the field for the home side with a knee injury.
Some games with scoreless first halves can be absolute ripsnorters, but this one wasn´t, it was dreadful from both sides.
With forty-five minutes on the clock the Wolves were awarded a penalty thirty out from the sticks and Stefan Ratchford kicked the goal for a 2-0 lead and to break the deadlock.
On forty-seven Josh Thewlis was held up on his back over the line on the last tackle, FC getting the ball back to work out from their own line.
On fifty-six Hull were presented with the opportunity to kick for goal themselves and Darnell McIntosh taking the kicking duties slid the ball across the front of the posts, FC still trailing by two.
Thewlis went over on sixty-two, but referee Child ruled that the final pass was forwards as the Wolves fans celebrations turned to groans.
Ratchford added a second penalty goal on sixty-six, the Wolves doing it in two´s.
In the dying minutes FC were held up on the line on two occasions and forced two goal line dropouts but couldn´t score, the game ending tryless.
There can be no dressing this up in fine clothes or glossing over the low points in the interest of the highs, this was simply awful fare for the fans in the ground and those watching on TV across the nation. Warrington got the points, their first for two months, but the casualty was the game which was done no favours. Neither side deserved the points, and some may argue that they should both be docked points for the lack of entertainment that they provided.
There was not one memorable moment or talking point, this one will be quickly erased from the collective rugby league conscience.
Warrington Wolves: Widdop, Thewlis, Wrench, Mata´utia, Ashton, Ratchford (2G), Williams, Mulhern, Clark D, Cooper, Currie, Holmes, Davis. Subs: Philbin, Walker, Harrison, Mikaele.
Hull FC: Shaul, McIntosh, Wynne, Vulikijapani, Swift, Lovodua, Gale, Evans, Houghton, Satae, Lane, Ma´u, Sao. Subs: Brown, Fash, Hookem, Taylor.
Half-Time: 0-0.
Full-Time: 4-0.
Score Progression: 0-0 : HT : 2-0, 4-0, : FT.
Lead Exchanges: Warrington.
Referee: James Child.
