Hull FC stayed in the chase for the sixth and final play-off place by coasting to victory against struggling Warrington Wolves.
The visitors took an early lead through Marc Sneyd’s penalty but, after Lachlan Fitzgibbon was sin-binned the home side scored four tries in 16 first-half minutes – Lewis Martin, Denive Balmforth, Aidan Sezer and Harvey Barron all crossing.
John Cartwright’s side had hoped neighbours Hull Kingston Rovers would do them a favour by beating sixth-placed Wakefield, but they lost and that means the scrap will go down to the last round of matches.
The Black and Whites must now beat Catalans Dragons on Thursday and then hope Wakefield lose at bottom club Salford Red Devils the following evening.
A Dragons victory seems unlikely after this round of results but Hull can take comfort from the fact that they have gone to the final match still in contention after finishing second from bottom on points difference last season.
They went into the game with a host of injuries and with four players suspended by the RFL disciplinary committee this week, meaning they had to field a young team and recall two players from loan.
That showed in a combative opening 20 minutes, when the only thing between the teams was Sneyd’s usual accuracy from the kicking tee as he slotted a penalty.
But the yellow card for Fitzgibbon for a high shot on Sam Eseh changed the mood. And in their next attack the Black and Whites took full advantage, moving the ball wide for Martin to edge the top of the Super League try-scoring charts with his 23rd of the season – and 30th in all competitions.
Three minutes later Balmforth was on Barron’s shoulder as he broke clear to score another, and before Fitzgibbon returned Sezer had danced over for a third try in seven minutes.
Warrington went into the game on a terrible run of losing six of their previous seven and that fragility showed through as they collapsed after a decent start.
Barron latched on to Sezer’s grubber kick for another try before half-time and Jordan Lane also made the most of the Australian’s deft footwork for a try after the break.
Zak Hardaker scooted over the line from dummy half and converted his own try to wrap up the scoring.