Super League: Hull FC post 39-26 win over Wigan Warriors
Last Updated: 05/06/17 9:51am
Hull FC enjoyed a rare home win over Wigan as they ran in six tries en route to a comfortable 39-26 victory at the KCOM Stadium.
The hosts were always in control after opening up a decisive 24-point lead inside half-an-hour.
With just three minutes on the clock, they opened the scoring when Steve Michaels went over in the corner following a mistake by Thomas Leuluai.
And it became 8-0, nine minutes later, as Mark Minichiello collected a loose bouncing ball, following an up-and-under, and the second-row forward raced over from 10 yards.
Michaels nabbed his second try of the afternoon midway through the first half, after a series of cross-field passes set up the Australian winger who cruised over on the right.
Hull's fourth try was the best of the match, thanks to some strong running and clinical ball handling, which ended with Danny Washbrook powering between the posts.
And with Liam Farrell being shown a yellow card for dissent, it was all looking fairly bleak for Wigan.
With 30 minutes played, Hull were 24 points clear of their opponents who finally troubled the scorers four minutes before the break.
After Joe Burgess had intercepted and sprinted 90 yards into Hull FC's half, the Warriors remained in control of the ball before Tom Davies found enough space to touch down in the corner.
But when the half-time hooter arrived, the visitors trailed by 22 points, after Jake Connor kicked his third successful penalty of the opening 40 minutes.
Wigan made a strong start to the second half, with Liam Marshall's electric pace earning his team a try from nowhere, after the youngster ran from close to the half-way line into the home side's corner.
And the Warriors reduced the deficit further with an excellent try, which featured 11 passes and some quick-thinking by the grounded Farrell whose throw located Lewis Tierney who went over in the 55th minute.
The conversion by Marshall left Wigan 12 points adrift but, any thought of a Warriors' fightback, was ended by Jamie Shaul who collected his own high kick, by acrobatically and bravely touching down near the corner flag for his team's fifth try.
And Albert Kelly killed off the visitors once and for all by intercepting the ball close to his own posts, before running the full length of the pitch to make it 36-14 in the 66th minute.
Burgess netted Wigan's fourth try of the match but, by then, it was much too late for Shaun Wane's side.
After Kelly kicked a drop goal, Marshall took advantage of some slack Hull defending four minutes from time to grab his second try of the match, which left the deficit at 17 points.
And when Davies netted another Wigan try in the final minute, it was six touchdowns apiece, although Hull were 13 points to the good when the final hooter was sounded on Humberside.
The win was Hull FC's first at home in the Super League against Wigan since 2009.