Prescott hauls Hull into third spot

Hull 44 Wakefield 4

Steve Prescott warmed up for next week's role as the Lancashire full-back and his bid for a Great Britain place with a 20-point haul as Hull reclaimed third spot in the Super League.

Prescott scored two tries and kicked six goals on a night also notable for a successful, try-scoring return to rugby league by Gareth Raynor following his move from Leicester.

It was an impressive all-round performance watched by another near five-figure crowd as Hull became the second team, after Bradford, to go pass the 100,000 spectators mark this season.

Hull should have been ahead after two minutes, but Prescott missed an easy penalty. He made up for it five minutes later, taking a clever pass from Peter Lupton, making his debut on loan from Leeds, for the game's first try.

The next was even better in construction, Richard Horne taking a return pass from Colin Best to go through the gap he had created.

With Prescott rediscovering his kicking form, Trinity were in danger of being swept away, but they carved a try out of the blue when Ben Jeffries' well-timed pass sent Jamie Field over.

Prescott's penalty, after Craig Greenhill's barnstorming run, kept Hull comfortably in front, but Wakefield were hanging in gamely and would have been closer if not for Colum Halpenny twice knocking on in promising positions.

Six minutes before half-time, however, they were put firmly in their place once more by Prescott's second try, after good lead-up work from Paul Cooke and Richard Fletcher.

Almost immediately an excellent pass from Kirk Yeaman gave Raynor a try to welcome him back from rugby union, and Hull could relax at the break with a comfortable 20-point lead.

Seven minutes into the second half some wonderful handling again initiated by Horne, ended with Euan Dowes going over the try line.

More good play from the fast-improving Yeaman then released Best, before Sean Ryan's strength took him over for the seventh Hull try and another on-loan player, Alex Wilkinson, rounded it off by laying one on for Graeme Horne.

Hull: Prescott, Raynor, Best, Yeaman, Wilkinson, Cooke, R Horne, Greenhill, Treister, King, Ryan, Maher, Lupton. Substitutes: Carvell, Dowes, G Horne, Fletcher.

Wakefield: Holland, Wells, Seers, Spicer, Halpenny, Handforth, Jefferies, Korkidas, March, Griffin, Field, Ellis, Vowles. Substitutes: Wray, Newlove, Snitch, Wrench.

Referee: R Smith (Castleford).