Warrington emerged from a lean spell to bring high-flying Hull down to earth and finally clinch their place in the engage Super League play-offs.

The Wolves had put their top-six spot in jeopardy after losing eight of their previous 11 matches, but they produced some of their best rugby of the season to inflict on Hull only their second defeat in 16 matches under Australian coach Peter Sharp.

Hull were already assured of a second-placed finish but they will need a marked improvement if they are to challenge St Helens for the title.

Sharp's men took the lead with Paul Cooke's 10th-minute penalty and full-back Motu Tony had a try disallowed for a double movement but they spent most of the first half on defence.

With Lee Briers orchestrating to great effect, the Wolves took a grip on the game and a 14-2 interval lead was scant reward for their enterprise.

Former Hull winger Richie Barnett pounced for the first try on 12 minutes, beating Shaun Briscoe to Briers' high kick, and half-back Chris Bridge added another six minutes before half-time, demonstrating deceptive strength to tear out of a series of attempted tackles to touch down.

Briers added a penalty to his two conversions and Warrington might have been out of sight had Barnett managed to touch down following a sweeping cross-field move, but Hull substitute Richard Whiting somehow got his body under the ball.

Hull threatened a fightback when winger Gareth Raynor latched onto Tony's grubber kick to score their first try after 50 minutes and they might have been level had Whiting not knocked on over the line.

But there was no doubting Warrington's superiority and they stretched their lead after 55 minutes when Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson broke clear to get the supporting Ben Westwood over for his side's third try.

The visitors rallied and ought to have made more of breaks from Graeme Horne and Sid Domic, but they found Warrington full-back Stuart Reardon a magnificent last line of defence.

It took what looked suspiciously like a forward pass for Hull to eventually break through, Tony crossing at the corner, and Cooke's touchline conversion set up a tense finish.

Briers attempted to ease his side's anxiety with a drop goal which drifted wide but he made sure of the win when he intercepted Kirk Yeaman's pass to grab the winning try and added his fifth goal.