Warriors fall to defeat in Hull

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors fall short away at Hull FC.
• Wigan scored four tries on the road, but a tough game sees them come away with a loss.
• FT | Hull FC 31-22 Wigan Warriors.

Bateman, Marshall, French and Farrell all crossed for the Warriors on Saturday afternoon but it wasn’t enough to take home the two points against a strong Hull FC side.

Hull FC ran in three quick-fire tries as they raced to a 12-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes. John Bateman grabbed one back for the visiting Warriors but Reynolds notched a fourth for Hull as he eased under the sticks. Liam Marshall got Wigan’s second effort of the afternoon, converted by Harry Smith to see them in trailing 18-12.

A converted Bevan French effort got Wigan back level at 18-18, before Tuimavave crossed for the home side and edge them back into the lead. Luke Gale added a drop goal with 12 minutes to go, before Liam Farrell added a fourth for Wigan but it was Hull who took the 31-22 win on Saturday afternoon after a late effort from Chris Satae.

Report

It was a disappointing start for the Warriors as a penalty for offside allowed Hull to kick to touch and into the Wigan half. Making the most of the territory they spread the ball left to see Adam Swift over in the corner. A few minutes later and back-to-back penalties close to their own goal line saw Wigan on the back foot again as Darnell McIntosh eased over in the opposite corner, Gale missed both conversion attempts from the touchlines but Hull had an 8-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Hull added a third try in the 14th minute as a team effort from left to right following another penalty allowed Swift to face a one-on-one which he got the better of to go in at the left corner again. Luke Gale couldn’t convert the third effort and the score was 12-0.

Wigan got themselves back in it with 18 minutes on the clock, a knock on from Hull gave Wigan the head and feed inside the hosts half of the field. A ball right saw Thornley get Wigan close to the line before John Bateman darted for the line in the follow up to score, Harry Smith added the conversion from out wide and it was 12-6 after the first quarter of the match.

Hull were in again immediately afterwards though in response, a set restart allowed the home side to roll into the Wigan half once more, Houghton made the initial meters before Connor followed up to send Reynolds flying over next to the sticks, converted by Gale for 18-6.

Liam Marshall got Wigan back within 6 as a string of passes ended up with the winger, who stepped away from one man on the wing to glide over for Wigan’s second of the afternoon. Another great conversion from Harry Smith sailed between the posts to make it 18-12. Luke Gale attempted a drop goal before the hooter but it was wide of the sticks and Wigan went in six-points down at the break.

Hull started the brighter of the two sides after the restart and Adam Swift looked for his hat-trick but a big defensive effort sees the Warriors force the wing man into touch to keep the scores the same. Jai Field went closest to opening the second half account as a kick from Harry Smith trickled to the in goal but the effort just had too much on it for Field to connect before the ball went dead.

It was the Warriors who went over next though, Harry Smith burst through the Hull line and had Bevan French in support who left Jake Connor on the floor in the corner to cut inside and score under the posts. Harry Smith made it three from three conversion attempts to level the scores at 18-18.

Almost immediately Hull responded. Twice they come close on the left edge, but strong Wigan defence kept them out. A kick on the last caused the trouble though as Tuimavave scooped the ball up and raced to the goal line unscathed to get the ball down. Gale converted and Hull were back in front at 24-18.

With 12 minutes to go, Hull got themselves deep into the Wigan half and dropped the ball back to Luke Gale who was in good range to slot a one-pointer and ensure that Wigan had to score twice in the last 10 minutes.

Wigan did go over, as Liam Farrell ran in for a score in the 74th minute, registering his 500th point for Wigan but Hull hit back once more through Chris Satae to confirm the 31-22 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Gallery:

Hull FC: Jake Connor, Darnell McIntosh, Carlos Tuimavave, Connor Wynne, Adam Swift, Josh Reynolds, Luke Gale, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Kane Evans, Manu Ma’u, Jordan Lane, Jack Brown.

Interchanges: Josh Griffin, Joe Lovodua, Chris Satae, Scott Taylor.

Tries: Swift (2′, 14′), McIntosh (10′), Reynolds (23′), Tuimavave (53′), Satae (78′)

Goals: Gale 2/5

Drop Goals: Gale 1/1

Sin Bin: Gale (80′)

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Bevan French, Iain Thornley, Jake Bibby, Liam Marshall, Cade Cust, Harry Smith, Brad Singleton, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Liam Farrell, John Bateman, Morgan Smithies.

Interchanges: Patrick Mago, Oliver Partington, Ethan Havard, Joe Shorrocks.

Tries: Bateman (18′), Marshall (32′), French (53′), Farrell (74′)

Goals: Smith 3/4

Referee: Marcus Griffiths

Attendance: 11,496