Betfred Superliga
Casco FC (18) 24
Attempts: Walker, Sutcliffe, Litten, Balmforth Goals: Charles 4
Wigan (4) 22
Attempts: Marshall 2, O’Neill, Eckersley Goals: Keighran 3
Hull FC ended Wigan Warriors’ eight-game winning run as they held on for a thrilling 24-22 victory over the Super League leaders at the MKM Stadium.
Jack Walker’s try after Abbas Miski had failed to connect with a high shot gave them early impetus and although Liam Marshall responded, further goals from Liam Sutcliffe and Davy Litten put the home side 18-4 ahead at half-time.
With Wigan’s Tyler Dupree in the sin bin, Denive Balmforth added a fourth try after the break as the visitors continued to make uncharacteristic handling errors.
Trailing by 20, the Warriors suddenly found another gear against tired opponents when Brad O’Neill, Marshall and Zach Eckersley came on, but Lewis Martin collected a cross-field shot just in front of the line with seconds remaining to secure the points for Hull.
Interim coach Simon Grix appointed King Vuniyayawa loan signings and Ed Chamberlain in Hull’s 17th and from the start they looked a transformed team from one that had won just two of their previous 17 matches.
Miski’s error gave Walker the opening and the Airlie Birds’ approach was typified by a great strike from Ligi Sao that left Kaide Ellis on his back.
Liam Farrell slipped with the line at his mercy as Wigan tried to respond, but after Hull’s Jake Trueman sent a shot straight into touch, costing them field position, Zach Eckersley sent Marshall into the left corner.
But that didn’t stop Hull’s momentum and Trueman’s quick hands allowed Sutcliffe to explode a tackle at his second attempt, and Vuniyayawa and Martin brought down Wigan’s Junior Nsemba from inches away.
Litten dived after receiving an angled shot from Trueman before Dupree received 10 minutes in the bin for a dangerous tackle on Chamberlain.
A dismal half for Wigan ended with Farrell being denied four points as Walker’s attempted save on Jake Wardle was ruled complete before he collected the loose ball.
Dupree’s absence cost the Warriors just after half-time as Balmforth charged forward to extend the lead to 10 points and another great tackle from Walker prevented Miski from coming in at the corner, his knee touching the ground beyond the touchline.
More than an hour had passed when O’Neill’s try was confirmed by the video referee, but brilliant play from 18-year-old Jack Charles, who contributed eight points with his boot, almost led to a fifth for the home side .
Litten was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle with eight minutes remaining and Wigan immediately made the extra man count when a cut ball sent Marshall in for his 25th try of the season.
Moments later, a clever deflection from Wardle created the opening for Eckersley to score and Adam Keighran reduced the lead to two points with his shot, but Hull’s desperate defending meant the Warriors suffered just their third defeat of the campaign.
Post-game reaction
Hull FC interim manager Simon Grix:
“After training with a certain purpose, I expected us to get it right this week and for a large part of the game they played like we trained, which was very pleasing.
“Luckily we stuck it out – we did some stupid things in between [it], but it’s us. Sometimes it wasn’t pretty, but victory is everything.
“[In the last 10 minutes] We still showed a desire to play, which was great to see, but there were some things where you thought, ‘Why did we do that?’
“Against the best group in the league, it will be difficult to reach the end of the game because physically they are very impressive, which they are capable of doing.”
FC hull: Walker, Briscoe, Litten, Sutcliffe, Martin, Trueman, Charles, Ese’ese, Smith, Sao, Lane, Chamberlain, Aydin.
Exchanges: Balmforth, Gardiner, Laidlaw, Vuniyayawa.
Sin-bin: Litten (72).
Wigan: Eckersley, Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, Farrimond, Smith, Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.
Exchanges: Byrne, Mago, Dupree, Walters.
Sin-bin: Dupree (34).
Judge: Aaron Moore.
