Super League: Wakefield beat Hull FC 31-13 to continue Black and Whites' slide

Pauli Pauli rumbled across for a try to punish Hull FC and put Wakefield on the way to a comeback win

Wakefield Trinity kicked off the Super 8s section of the Super League with an impressive win at off-colour Hull FC, who have now lost the past five games.

After the two sides shared a score, a goal and a drop-goal apiece in an all-square first-half, Hull went in front when Jamie Shaul slipped in for a try.

However, Wakefield responded brilliantly, scoring three tries in eight minutes to turn the game around.

Victory takes Trinity a point above the Black and Whites into sixth place.

After their derby defeat by Rovers and a 72-10 humbling at Wakefield in their penultimate regular season game, the onus was on Hull to reignite their season but Wakefield showed their continued improvement with a stunning second-half display.

It began well for the home side, as Scott Taylor showed his power by brushing aside the defence for the opening score.

However, Craig Huby marked his return to the side by crashing over to get Trinity in the game.

Shaul's elusive running got him on the board after half-time but rather than build on that score, the Airlie Birds crumbled as Wakefield found a foothold.

First the cannonball running of Bill Tupou took him in, then another man-mountain in Pauli Pauli found the whitewash and Tom Johnstone added the gloss with a streaky dance through the cover.

Further goals from Ryan Hampshire added a skewed look to the scoreline and returned Chris Chester's Trinity side to winning ways at the expense of his old team.

Hull FC coach Lee Radford:

"We are massively disappointed with the second half in particular. There were so many layers stripped back on how we wanted to play with the football. It was scary.

"So, to play that way your percentages need to be really high, your errors need to be really low and you need field position and territory.

"It is not pretty by any stretch. But we haven't held onto the football for the past two weeks so there was a reason for that.

"We are desperate at the minute for some blokes to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. We need someone to come up with some impact in the game and I am not having a go at the captain or the vice-captain.

"I am talking about the actions, not the mannerisms. We are desperate for that."

Wakefield coach Chris Chester:

"Realistically, we know the top four is out of grasp. But while it is still mathematically possible, we are going to work our hardest to try and get there.

"We showed some really good signs, especially in that second half, including one spell when we had 13 sets and completed 12.

"Off the back of that, we got three repeat sets and three tries as well. The things we need to rectify are at the start of the game.

"However, if we can bottle the start to the second half and start like that against St Helens on Thursday we are going to be a tough team to beat."

Hull FC: Shaul; Faraimo, Griffin, Tuimavave, Talanoa; Abdull, Sneyd, Taylor, Houghton, Paea, Lane, Washbrook, Manu.

Replacements: Green, Fash, Downs, Bienek.

Wakefield: Jowitt ;Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Tupou, Johnstone; Miller, Hampshire; England, Randell, Fifita, Horo, Ashurst, Annakin.

Replacements: Wood, Pauli, Arona, Huby.

Referee: Jack Smith (RFL)