Warriors exit the Challenge Cup

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors lose against Hull FC in the fourth round of the Betfred Challenge Cup.
• Despite four first half tries, the Warriors exit the Challenge Cup in the fourth round.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 22-26 Hull FC.

Match Report as Wigan Warriors exit the Challenge Cup at the fourth round following a 26-22 defeat to hull fc at The Brick Community stadium.

Wigan ran in four first half tries to build-up a 22-6 lead at the interval with efforts from Zach Eckersley, Jai Field, Junior Nsemba and Liam Farrell with Hull FC getting on the board though a Herman Ese’Ese effort under the sticks.

Amir Bourouh and Lewis Martin got two tries back for Hull FC in the second half to make it 22-14. Lewis Martin then completed a second half hat-trick with two further converted scores as Hull FC made it 26-22 and knock the Warriors out of the Betfred Challenge Cup.

Report

The Warriors got off to a great start as an attacking set saw them awarded a fresh set of six for a Hull knock-on, play continued and the passes went wide the right to find Zach Eckersley in space to go over for the opener. Keighran was left receiving treatment following the try and from the touchline Harry Smith was off target as it sat 4-0.

Wigan doubled their lead four minutes later as a break from Zach Eckersley saw him send a pass inside to Kruise Leeming who was stopped short. The Warriors got play running again and a step inside from Smith opened up some space to see Jai Field over for Wigan’s second. Harry Smith converted the effort for 10-0 after 10 minutes.

Wigan were in for a third on 14 minutes as another great assist from Harry Smith saw the halfback drop a shoulder to go through a gap and send Nsemba running away for the try. Smith added the extras for the 16-0 advantage.

Jai Field was replaced after 20 minutes as Sam Walters was introduced to the action. Hull FC then got their first points of the evening as repeat sets allowed Amir Bourouh to run the ball close before sending Herman Ese’Ese crashing onto a ball to go over next to the uprights. Aidan Sezer added the two-pointer from close range and it was 16-6.

Wigan got a penalty for offside close to the Hull goal line going into the final 10 minutes, which Harry Smith knocked over from the tee to extend Wigan’s lead to 18-6.

Liam Farrell had the last say of the first forty as a dropped ball from Hull FC on their own 20m allowed Kaide Ellis to regain possession, from the play the ball went right to find the Captain who bundled over in the corner to extend the Warriors’ lead. Smith couldn’t find the target from the touchline this time as Wigan took a 22-6 lead into the interval.

Hull FC had the first say of the second half as Harvey Barron intercepted a pass on his own goal line to get 20m away, brought down by Zach Eckersley. The resulting play saw Amir Bourouh dart through from dummy half to get the visitors second score of the evening. Sezer couldn’t convert and it was 22-10 in Wigan’s favour.

John Asiata was shown a yellow card on 50 minutes for dissent following a high shot on Zach Eckersley but Hull FC managed to get over for another try with a man less, as Lewis Martin collected a pass on the left edge to race over. Sezer couldn’t add the two and Wigan had the eight-point advantage.

With the game still in the balance going into the final 15 minutes, Kaide Ellis was then replaced by Tyler Dupree for a concussion assessment. Lewis Martin crossed for his second of the game on 71 minutes as a chip over the top from Sezer was collected by the winger who weaved his way past the defence to cut the deficit once more. Sezer was on target with the touchline conversion to get Hull FC back within two going into the final 7 minutes.

Lewis Martin completed his hat-trick four minutes from try with a score in the left corner, Sezer added the conversion and Hull FC were ahead for the first time in the game with a 26-22 lead.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.

Interchange: Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Sam Walters, Tom Forber.

18th Player: Harvie Hill.

Tries: Eckersley (4′), Field (8′), Nsemba (14′), Farrell (37′)

Goals: Smith 3/5

Hull FC: Jordan Rapana, Harvey Barron, Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Lewis Martin, Cade Cust, Aidan Sezer, Herman Ese’Ese, Amir Bourouh, Jack Ashworth, Jed Cartwright, Jordan Lane, John Asiata.

Interchange: Logan Moy, Liam Knight, Brad Fash, Hugo Salabio.

18th Player: Will Gardiner.

Tries: Ese’Ese (25′), Bourouh (46′), Martin (55′, 71′, 76′)

Goals: Sezer 3/5

Sin Bin: Asiata (50′)

Referee: Chris Kendall.

Attendance: 9,287

Thanks to all the publications in attendance at the fixture: Wigan Today, BBC Radio Manchester and Humberside, Love Rugby League, All about League and Reach PLC.