Wakefield failed to give their new coach Adrian Vowles a winning start as Hull plundered the points at Belle Vue.

A late try from Adam Maher killed off the Wildcats, although the new coach will have been heartened by the way the hosts started the game and built a 14-0 lead.

It started perfectly for the Wildcats, with Ian Knott scoring and then converting a try in the opening minute after a jinking run by David March.

Vowles was himself brought into the action after starting the game on the bench and he watched as Brad Davis and Kris Tassell combined to send Waisale Sovatabua over for the second try.

Knott again converted and added a 40-metre penalty soon after to establish a 14-point cushion.

Hull finally clicked into gear to cut the deficit with their first meaningful attack in the 18th minute.

Even then, the break seemed to have floundered when Paul Cooke's long pass went to ground.

But Matt Crowther scooped up the ball and dashed inside from the left wing to cross.

He then converted his own score and added a penalty minutes later.

Two Hull tries before the break gave the visitors a vital lead.

A Tony Smith pass created the first of those when he set Toa Kohe Love away, the Kiwi evading Andrew Frew to send Gareth Raynor between the posts.

Scrum-half Smith then forced his way over six minutes before the break and Crowther converted both with ease.

After struggling for the tail end of the first half, Wakefield woke up to force themselves back into the game.

The scores were levelled at 20-20 when Paul Handforth scampered over from dummy-half for a crucial try.

Further penalties from Crowther and Steve Prescott edged Hull back in front, but Knott's fifth successful kick of the night set up a tense closing 10 minutes.

But in the end, it was Maher's strike which settled the game.

Wakefield: Holland, Sovatabua, Tassell, Bird, Frew, Moana, Davis, Broadbent, March, Feather, Slattery, Field, Knott. Replacements: Rinaldi, Vowles, Wrench, Handforth.

Hull: Prescott, Raynor, Kohe Love, Mackay, Crowther, R Horne, T Smith, Greenhill, Jackson, Logan, Maher, Ryan, Cooke. Replacements: King, Parker, G. Horne, Carvell.

Referee: R Smith (Castleford)