Super League: Hull FC 16-20 Wigan: Warriors move into third with fightback win

Hull began a run of five defeats in six games, while Wigan were seeking a sixth win in seven, but form counted for nothing in the first half of the table as the bottom-par Warriors struggled against relegated opponents.

Aidan Cesar’s cut-out pass gave Martin space on the left to run into the corner to put the Black and Whites in front on seven minutes.

Warriors lost second-row Liam Farrell and Luke Thompson with an injury on 15 minutes, setting the tone for the match as the visitors were forced to make a series of substitutions.

Yet they soon equalized in their first serious attack when Bevan French, on his first start since early March, zipped a pass to Eckersley who scored with an acrobatic one-handed finish.

Hull spurned a number of gifts, but eventually took one to restore their lead as Patrick Mago’s sloppy pass went into their possession and Barron slotted in from close range.

The hosts came close to scoring further tries through Tom Briscoe and Davy Litten, while Wigan were denied a score from Smith, who was canceled out by a hard forward pass at Jay Field.

Concerns that Hull had let the Challenge Cup winners off the hook were proved correct when Hodkinson was allowed to run untouched to pull Wigan 10-8 up just after the break.

But errors and penalties from both sides continued in the staccato second half and Hull capitalized as Cartwright ran a super line to challenge three and cross.

Trailing 16-8, French had a score ruled out when a review showed Smith’s 40-20 effort had gone into touch in the build-up.

But moments later the Australian stand-off got involved again, aceing a slick try and goal from Keighran, who then booted a penalty to make it 16-16 with 12 minutes remaining.

And the comeback ended with less than eight minutes remaining when Smith got scared, evaded a challenge and crossed to put Wigan ahead for the first time.

Hull FC: Moy, Baron, Briscoe, Litten, Martin, Arthur, Cesar, Aces, Boroh, Hill, Batchelor, Hardaker, Salabio.

exchange: Cartwright, Laidlaw, Hutchinson, Matautia.

Wigan: Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Hodkinson, French, Smith, Esseh, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Partington.

exchange: Farrimond, Ellis, Mago, McDermott.

Referee: Liam Moore