Super League: Hull FC 12-48 Wigan Warriors

Matty Bowen scored twice on his return to the side with Ryan Hampshire injured

Wigan gave their Super League top-two hopes a boost by finishing off their regular-season campaign with victory at Hull FC.

The win takes the Warriors level with leaders Leeds and one point clear of rivals St Helens, both of whom are still to play in the final round.

Eight tries, including a double for full-back Matty Bowen on his return to the side, ensured the points for Wigan.

Hull, already guaranteed a top-eight place themselves, scored two tries.

Airlie Birds boss Lee Radford saw star back-rower Gareth Ellis and playmaker Leon Pryce join the injury list at Hull KR last time out and lost prop Josh Bowden to a severe-looking ankle injury.

Half-back George Williams scored one of Wigan's eight tries at Hull FC

With wins against Leeds, Widnes and now Hull in the last three games, Wigan are in good form going into the Super 8s, and they passed 100 tries in this success.

The visitors hit the front early, when smart offloading round the corner by Anthony Gelling set up Joe Burgess.

Wigan had momentum and grabbed a second when Matty Smith's kick to the right was tapped back by Josh Charnley for an unmarked John Bateman to score.

Jordan Abdull's short ball slipped Richard Whiting through a gap to upset the Warriors' rhythm, but after Bowden limped off, the away side struck again when Gelling kicked ahead and Sam Powell collected the bounce to score.

Jack Logan had a try ruled out after the ball had bounced forward from Jordan Rankin and Wigan responded with a fourth try when George Williams streaked away under the posts from a loose offload.

Sean O'Loughlin touched down in the second half to extend the lead, and after Steve Michaels had a Hull try chalked off for a foot in touch, Joe Westerman eventually crossed when he powered over.

Wigan sealed the points when Bowen slid across for his second and Dom Crosby profited from quick ball late on.

Hull FC coach Lee Radford:

"What a difference a week makes. We spoke all week about not making reaching the eight the highlight of the season. Last week was huge for us but it couldn't be our Grand Final. We wanted to push as hard as we could for the top four so to back it up with that is hugely disappointing.

"I don't want to make excuses but I've been involved in derbies and it takes a lot out of you. But there was a lot riding on that game tonight.

"I said at half-time we had to be prepared to hit a bit harder and 10 minutes into the second half we could have had 12 points but a lack of execution cost us. We looked wounded and they are not a forgiving side."

Wigan coach Shaun Wane:

"Matty Bowen was always going to play [ahead of Ryan Hampshire] tonight. They are both good players, we are lucky to have two class full-backs, but 'Mango' did some great things.

"We'll go into the eights in a good manner. I thought we were ruthless at times and our skill and tempo was good.

"Everything paid off today. We'd done bits of things in games well but tonight we put it all together."

Hull FC: Rankin; Lineham, Talanoa, Logan, Michaels; Abdull, Sneyd; Paea, Houghton, Watts, Minichiello, Whiting, Westerman.

Replacements: Green, Thompson, Bowden, Hadley.

Wigan: Bowen; Charnley, Gelling, Bateman, Burgess; Williams, Smith; Crosby, McIlorum, Flower, Tomkins, L. Farrell, O'Loughlin.

Replacements: Powell, Clubb, Tautai, Sutton.

Referee: Ben Thaler (RFL).

Attendance: 10,787