Best's virtuoso display cuts Warrington down to size

Hull 38 Warrington 14

Colin Best led the assault as Hull romped clear in the second half for a victory that denied Warrington a place back in the top six.

The rangy Australian winger scored two tries and had a hand in two more as Hull put last week's disaster at Widnes firmly behind them.

With Lee Briers missing from the Warrington line-up and the equally influential Jason Smith making his long-awaited return for Hull via the bench, all the omens were in the home's side favour at the KC Stadium last night.

Another Hull player returning from injury, Richie Barnett, kicked ahead to create the first real chance of the game. He was on his way to the try line when play was brought back for an obstruction on him and a penalty was kicked by Paul Cooke.

With defences generally on top, it took penalties from Rob Smyth and, after he had missed an easy one, Graham Appo to take Warrington into the lead. Appo was also there for the first try of the match after Graeme Horne gave them the chance with a knock-on. Nat Wood got a clever short pass away and Appo raced clear down the right.

The lead lasted just five more minutes, good work by Hull's strong forwards down the middle pulling in the defence and Cooke's long pass sending Best over for a try which Cooke converted.

Cooke also kicked Hull into the lead, although at the cost of losing Smith, carried off moments after coming into the game following a borderline tackle by Paul Noone that was placed on report and enraged the Hull camp.

They channelled their anger constructively when Best fended off Dean Gaskell and got his pass inside for Horne to touch down.

Best continued his outstanding contribution after the break, intercepting Nat Woods' speculative pass and eating up the 80 yards to the other end for another converted try.

Warrington's problems intensified when Appo was sin-binned for holding down Kirk Yeaman and, almost immediately, Cooke's neat pass sent Richard Fletcher charging over.

Toa Kohe-Love's kick got away from Best three minutes later, but ran back for Horne to claim his second as Hull cut loose.

Brent Grose interrupted the one-way traffic with a 70-yard interception, but it was far too late to make any difference and Smith's return to the action left Sean Ryan scoring Hull's sixth try.

Hull: R Horne; Best, Kohe-Love, Barnett, Wilkinson; Cooke, G Horne; Greenhill, Treister, Dowes, Ryan, Maher, Chester. Substitutes used: J Smith, Yeaman, Fletcher, Carvell.

Warrington: Appo; Smyth, Grose, Westwood, Gaskell; Clarke, N Wood; P Wood, Burns, Guisset, Sibbit, Noone, Domic. Substitutes used: Hilton, Hulse, Stevens, Wainwright.

Referee: R Smith (Castleford).