AN ELL OF A FINISH!
Gareth signs off in style
GARETH ELLIS wrote a fairytale ending in front of his home crowd to nudge Hull closer to a play-off spot.
The 36-year-old forward is retiring at the end of the season but signed off in his last home game on a high.
His 71st-minute try gave Hull the lead for the first time against a spirited Wakefield side, the club he started his career with.
It lifts Hull back up to third, with one game left before the play-offs, but it all but ruins Trinity’s chances.
Wakefield have had a terrific season and were the better team in the first half of this must-win game for both sides.
But it was Challenge Cup winners Hull, led by skipper Ellis and drop-goal king Marc Sneyd, who held their nerve.
Response
Wakefield went for Hull’s throats with an early spell of pressure that resulted in a try for centre Joe Arundel.
Another grubber kick was then pounced on by half-back partner Jacob Miller, with Finn adding the goal for a 10-0 lead.
Hull responded thanks to a brilliant leap by Mahe Fonua to grab a Sneyd high kick before twisting round to ground it.
Sneyd added the goal but Hull had full-back Jamie Shaul sin-binned when he took too long stopping another attack.
Finn kicked the resulting penalty for a 12-6 half-time lead, but poor tackles allowed Sneyd to race over from 30 metres out as the Hull fightback started.
Sneyd added the goal to level with Ellis then pouncing for a converted try with Sneyd adding a drop goal.
It proved crucial as Wakefield hit back with a late Mason Caton-Brown try, only for Finn to miss a drop-goal attempt with 19 seconds left.