Challenge Cup: Hull FC 20-10 Wigan Warriors - Black and Whites into semi-finals
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Challenge Cup highlights: Hull FC 20-10 Wigan
Betfred Challenge Cup |
|---|
Hull FC (8) 20 |
Tries: Satae 2, Swift Goals: Sneyd 4 |
Wigan (4) 10 |
Tries: Bibby, Manfredi Goals: Smith |
Tevita Satae scored twice as Hull FC reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a 20-10 win over Wigan.
Jake Bibby crossed in the corner to put Wigan in front, but Satae crashed over immediately in reply.
Marc Sneyd's penalty gave Hull an 8-4 half-time lead and Satae's second try extended their advantage.
Dom Manfredi's late score gave Wigan hope, but Adam Swift's breakaway try with the game's final play confirmed a first loss of the season for Warriors.
Hull were well beaten when the two sides met at the quarter-final stage last season.
But there was little to separate the teams when the Cherry and Whites ran out 16-14 winners in Super League last month - a game overshadowed by Tony Clubb's racist comment to Andre Savelio which saw the Wigan prop banned for eight games - and they were again very closely matched this time.
Bibby gave Wigan, who have won all five of their league games, the perfect start in the wet conditions at Emerald Headingley when he capped a period of patient probing by taking Willie Isa's offload and racing into the corner.
Hull replied immediately when Satae powered his way over from close range, and Sneyd's conversion and penalty, coupled with Zak Hardaker hitting the post with a penalty attempt of his own at the other end, ensured the Black and Whites held a narrow half-time lead.
They had to survive the last six minutes of the half a man short after Jack Brown was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Joe Shorrocks but Wigan failed to seriously test their defence.
Hull continued to control the game after the break as Wigan struggled to break them down, and they capitalised on Bevan French knocking-on near his own line when prop Satae charged over for his second try.
When Manfredi slid in to touch down and Harry Smith converted with 80 seconds left, Wigan had one set to go the length of the field to score to take the game into extra time.
But, despite Wigan working an overlap, Isa knocked on and Swift gathered to run in from 80 metres and seal Hull's place in the last four.
'Defensive intent' delights Hodgson - reaction
Hull FC coach Brett Hodgson told BBC Sport:
"We had little bits of adversity during the week with what happened last weekend and then losing Jake Connor and Brad Fash left us very thin.
"Chris [Tevita Satae] was immense in midfield and I'm really proud.
"We know against Wigan you don't win the game unless you play for 80 minutes and our defensive intent was brilliant.
"I would have liked the game to finish two minutes earlier than it did but we're so proud of the group and to get through to the next round."
Man of the match Tevita Satae told BBC Sport:
"The boys really dug in for each other against a good Wigan side. You know what they're going to bring, they're going to play for 80 minutes and I'm really proud of the boys and the coaching staff for digging in for each other.
"We knew with the weather we had to keep the ball tight, do nothing fancy and put all our efforts into defence.
"I'm very happy to have scored but my two tries would have meant nothing if we hadn't got the win."
Wigan coach Adrian Lam told BBC Sport:
"We weren't Wigan today. There were a lot of mistakes, we couldn't build any pressure and it was a stop-start game.
"Individual errors at difficult times put us under pressure and we just couldn't hold out.
"It's uncharacteristic. We've been competing really well in the last four weeks and it's really disappointing and frustrating. It's not who we are.
"We need to take a good look at ourselves."
Hull FC: Swift, Scott, Tuimavave, Griffin, Fonua, Reynolds, Sneyd, Satae, Houghton, Sao, Ma'u, Savelio, Lane.
Interchanges: Brown, Cator, Johnstone, Wynne.
Sin-bin: Brown (34)
Wigan: Hardaker, Bibby, Isa, Farrell, French, Smith, Hastings, Partington, Bateman, Smithies, Byrne, Powell, Singleton.
Interchanges: Bullock, Shorrocks, Havard, Manfredi.
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