WARRINGTON Wolves have overcome a number of setbacks to be still in the hunt at half time against Hull FC at the KC Stadium.

Wolves, who went into the game with a reshuffled back line due to the absences of Chris Hicks and Matt King, went down to 12 men in the sixth minute when former Hull prop Garreth Carvell ended up in the sin bin.

Tony Smith’s men were under the cosh from the start, conceding a penalty in the first tackle.

Richie Mathers, playing full back despite being named on the wing, pulled off a try-saving tackle on Jodie Broughton in the second set and then two penalties conceded by Carvell left him in trouble on his first return to the KC Stadium since joining Wolves.

The intimidating roar of the home fans seemed to spur Steve Ganson into action and resulted in the big prop going on report for an alleged high tackle on Richard Horne in the fourth minute and two minutes later he was yellow carded for thrusting his arm in the face of Ewan Dowes.

By the time Carvell returned, Wolves were 12-0 behind.

A loose pass from Michael Monaghan was kicked ahead by Richard Whiting and then the chase was on between Mark Calderwood and Chris Riley.

Calderwood had a head start and hacked on twice under pressure from Riley, with the final kick allowing Whiting to skilfully pick up the ball off his bootlaces to touch down in the 12th minute. Danny Tickle converted.

Tickle busted his way through three attempted tackles to set up the next try in the next set.

He managed to slip the ball away to Kirk Yeaman and he then handed a clear run to the line for Broughton. Tickle again converted.

Wolves worked two possible try-scoring chances in the opening quarter but fluffed them both.

A chip kick from Briers went over the head of Bridge with the try line begging and then a Monaghan pass to Riley flew into touch ahead of the winger looked to have acres of room to get over.

But after all the setbacks, Warrington got themselves back in the game with a 25th minute try from Simon Grix.

A lovely delayed ball from Louis Anderson found Grix on a good angle and he stepped inside Horne to complete the try. Bridge converted to leave Wolves 12-6 behind.

Tickle stretched the lead to eight points in the 33rd minute after Wolves were penalised for ball stealing.

Wolves: Richie Mathers; Chris Bridge, Vinnie Anderson, Simon Grix, Chris Riley; Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley Jon Clarke, Garreth Carvell, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison. Subs: Mickey Higham, Paul Wood, Paul Rauhihi, Matty Blythe.

Hull: Richard Horne; Mark Calderwood, Richard Whiting, Kirk Yeaman, Jodie Broughton; Danny Washbrook, Chris Thorman; Peter Cusack, Tommy Lee, Jamie Thackray, Ewan Dowes, Mike Burnett, Danny Tickle. Subs: Danny Houghton, Paul King, Dominic Maloney, Josh Hodgson.