Super League: Hull FC 31-22 Wigan Warriors - Ten tries scored as Hull beat Wigan
- Published
Six tries were scored in the first half, with Hull FC winger Adam Swift grabbing two of them
Betfred Super League |
|---|
Hull FC (18) 31 |
Tries: Swift 2, McIntosh, Reynolds, Tuimavave, Satae Goals: Gale 3 Drop-Goals: Gale |
Wigan (12) 22 |
Tries: Bateman, Marsh, French, Farrell Goals: Smith 3 |
Hull FC beat Wigan Warriors in an end-to-end Super League thriller that saw 10 tries scored.
The hosts' winger Adam Swift powered over twice in the opening 13 minutes to help build a 12-0 lead.
Missed conversions kept Wigan in touch, with Liam Marshall cutting the gap to six points at half-time, before Bevan French raced through to make it 18-18.
Second-row Liam Farrell's try set up a frantic finish but ultimately Hull held on as their attack proved too strong.
Fast, flowing Black and White play from the kick-off stunned Wigan as Swift picked up the ball on the left and dived across the line with the first clear chance.
Fellow winger Darnell McIntosh then scored after being found unopposed on the right, before Swift got his second after a brilliant driving run.
One regret might have been Luke Gale missing three kicks by the time Wigan's John Bateman crashed through to get his team on the scoreboard at 12-6, but the visitors just could not keep Hull at bay as Josh Reynolds finished off a high-tempo move.
The away side grew in confidence with an electric series of passes helping Marshall score, and they picked up where they left off after the break, with French's try raising the prospect that Hull had thrown the match away.
Black and White centre Carlos Tuimavave skipped through before Gale added a drop-goal to ease fears.
But the final push from the Cherry and White sent hearts racing as Liam Farrell capitalised on an overload on the left to make it 25-22, only for Harry Smith to miss his fourth and most crucial conversion with five minutes to go.
As the two sides began to tire, the door was left open for Hull FC prop Chris Satae to have the final say as he collected and crashed down to rubber-stamp the victory.
Hull FC coach Brett Hodgson told BBC Radio Humberside:
"Really proud of the players. We felt that Wigan would have one eye on next week but I don't think they did.
"They came to play and they threw plenty at us. Their quality showed at certain times and they tested us.
"But our ability to continue working hard for each other was there to be seen.
"We got a few early points today. We have been possibly a little conservative in that part of the game."
Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet:
"There's plenty of lessons to learn but I'm glad we don't have to talk about our energy or desire.
"There's a few technical things we need to fix - the start hurt us as we came up against a strong team.
"I thought we were resilient. There was a time where Hull were clearly the better team, got a few scores.
"That is credit to them, but our response was positive."
Hull FC: Connor, McIntosh, Tuimavave, Wynne, Swift, Reynolds, Gale, Sao, Houghton, Evans, Ma'u, Lane, Brown.
Interchanges: Griffin, Lovadua, Satae, Taylor.
Wigan: Field, French, Thornley, Bibby, Marshall, Cust, Smith, Singleton, O'Neil, Byrne, Farrell, Bateman, Smithies.
Interchanges: Mago, Partington, Havard, Shorrocks.
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
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