Wigan nil Hull FC
- Match report as Wigan score two second half tries to nil Hull FC at the MKM Stadium.
- Tries from Jake Bibby and Zak Hardaker seal victory for the Warriors.
- FT | Hull FC 0-10 Wigan Warriors.
Wigan Warriors scored two second half tries to seal victory and nil Hull FC at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Jake Bibby and Zak Hardaker touched down for Wigan to claim the two points and secure a Play-Off spot in the Betfred Super League.
Report
Centre Oliver Gildart returned to the starting 13 in the only change for the Warriors, as he recovered from a groin strain – picked up in the warm-up ahead of the Dacia Magic Weekend last week. Meanwhile, second rower John Bateman made his 150th appearance for the Club.
It was a scrappy start to the game with both teams making mistakes; neither could get a foot hold in the game. More errors continued to creep in as both sides tried to find a break through.
Hull seemed to target Wigan’s right edge as they placed a number of attacking kicks down that side, but winger Sam Halsall dealt with them all comfortably.
A couple of penalties also came into play during the first 40, as Wigan were slow to move from the play the ball and were called offside on two occasions in the first half. Hull though were unable to take advantage and capitalise in possession.
On the half hour mark, Hull were awarded a penalty as Wigan were offside. The home side chose to run it rather than taking a penalty kick and it proved to be the wrong decision as they knocked on in the first tackle.
Just before half time, a Jackson Hastings kick seemed to throw the Hull defence off guard as he placed a chip back inside towards the in-goal area and under the sticks – the Wigan players chased but it came to nothing as it was dealt with well by Hull.
There was a chance early in the second half for Hull as Marc Sneyd made a break. The half back had options left and right, and decided to go right but Wigan’s Liam Marshall was there to cut it out and stop the attack with a finger tip to take it away from the path of Bureta Faraimo. On the next Hull attack, the ball fell to Faraimo as he attempted to go over on the right side. He got an offload away but it fell into Wigan hands and the attack was stopped.
Hull were in possession again as Sneyd kicked deep on the last tackle from inside his own half. Hardaker chased it but he was unfortunate as the ball bounced back and hit him and went out of play. The Black and Whites received the ball back – close to the Wigan line – but it came to nothing after a kick on the last tackle went dead.
After a Harry Smith kick was bundled out of play by the Hull defence for a goal line drop out, Wigan had a great chance inside the opposition’s half. The Warriors made their way towards the Hull line and John Bateman came so close to breaking the deadlock but his arm couldn’t reach far enough to get the ball over the whitewash. From the play the ball, Bateman made a mistake and Hull won possession back.
Two minutes later and the breakthrough finally came. A superb Jackson Hastings kick found the run of Bibby as he touched down in the right corner. The delicate kick from Hastings was placed to perfection for the chasing Bibby as the winger was under pressure from the Hull defence, but he managed to collect it, keep hold of it and score in the corner to get the first try of the game and put Wigan ahead. Smith took the kick but it was just wide of the sticks, Wigan led 4-0.
In the 62nd minute, full back Hardaker produced a moment of brilliance. The Warriors kept an attack alive close to the line as the ball fell to Hardaker, who put a kick over the top of the Hull line, he chased it himself and the bounce was kind to him as it hit the right post and back to him for him to collect under pressure from a chasing defender to touch down in front of the visiting Wigan fans. Hardaker then stepped up for the kick and converted to give his side a 10-point advantage.
Into the final five minutes and Hull pushed to get on the scoreboard. Mitieli Vulikijapani went over for a try on the left side for FC but it was disallowed instantly as referee Liam Moore saw something in the build-up play. The Black and Whites continued to press but could not find a way through the firm Wigan defence.
The Warriors held on to the nil and claimed the two points with a 10-0 win to seal a place in the Betfred Super League Play-Offs.
Hull FC: Jamie Shaul, Bureta Faraimo, Carlos Tuimavave, Mahe Fonua, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Jake Connor, Marc Sneyd, Chris Satae, Jordan Johnstone, Ligi Sao, Andre Savelio, Cameron Scott, Manu Ma’u.
Interchanges: Jordan Lane, Brad Fash, Ben McNamara, Connor Wynne.
Wigan Warriors: Zak Hardaker, Sam Halsall, Jake Bibby, Oliver Gildart, Liam Marshall, Harry Smith, Jackson Hastings, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Oliver Partington, John Bateman, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies.
Interchanges: Liam Byrne, Ethan Havard, Pearce-Paul, Shorrocks
Tries: Bibby (52′), Hardaker (62′)
Goals: Smith 0/1, Hardaker 1/1
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 10,003
