The cup holders would have been delighted with their draw against Hull FC when it was made a couple of weeks ago, but after Hull FC’s stunning draw last weekend against the Leigh Leopards, there will have been more focus this week to ensure that they didn’t fall at this early stage in the competition.

There is only one league place between the two sides, Wigan in fourth and Hull in fifth, but the bookies had given the Black & Whites a massive twenty-two-point start on the handicap coupon as they were in no doubt that it would be the home side who were making progress.

Wigan have won their last seven home games against Hull FC requiring a look back to 2019 for the last time that the visitors took the win, but in the Challenge Cup it was Hull who won the last meeting between the two sides at the quarter final stage in 2021 when they won by 20-10.

 

It was a scrappy opening try, Wigan the beneficiaries as Aidan Sezer tried to intercept a miss-out pass into the hands of Bevan French who found Adam Keighran who in return released Zach Eckersley to score in the corner, Keighran being wiped out in the tackle after passing. Harry Smith was wide with the conversion from the right touchline.

On ten minutes Wigan turned defence into attack with fast hands and supported breaks seeing them speed downfield, Smith putting Jai Field over in an acre of space down the left. This time Smith added the extra two points for a 10-0 lead.

A great break from Smith ripped through the Hull line on sixteen before he found Junior Nsemba thirty from the line, the big second rower accelerating over for the third Wigan try of the afternoon. Smith slotted the ball between the uprights for his second of the afternoon.

Just before the half hour mark, Hull were off the mark. Herman Ese’ese crashing over the line from close after a John Asiata short pass. Aidan Sezer added the conversion for 6-16.

When Hull were pinged for offside on thirty-five, Smith accepted the offer of a two-point penalty with relish to extend the lead to two converted tries.

In the dying seconds of the half Liam Farrell pushed over the line off a Bevan French pass, rolling over the line under the tackle and grounding. Smith was unable to tag on the extras, but Wigan had a commanding 22-6 lead at the break.

It was Hull’s turn to score a try from nothing six minutes into the second half. Harvey Barron took an intercept close to his own line and sprinted seventy metres before being tackled. A fast play the ball saw the ball moved to the left with Amir Bourouh dummying and darting through a gap to ground. Sezer hit the post with the conversion attempt.

The referee’s patience snapped on fifty-one, John Asiata seeing Chris Kendall’s ten fingers and taking a break.

The twelve men were in for their third try to set the home nerves on edge. A beautiful Jordan Rapana looping pass found Lewis Martin to beat four tackler and score. Sezer missed the chance of reducing the arrears to six points as he put his conversion wide.

Eight minutes from time Martin got his second and Hull’s fourth try of the night to get his side back within four of their hosts. Great pace after taking a Sezer chip to the corner, on the full, saw him skin French to dive over in the left corner. Sezer found the target from the touchine, FC now two points behind with just under six minutes remaining. Wigan were now hanging on after conceding three unanswered tries.

Hull were besieging the Wigan line.

Two minutes from time Martin completed his hat-trick off a Sezer long pass to find acres of space to score in the corner and snatch the lead. Sezer was again on target and with just seconds remaining it was Hull FC who were making cup progress, eliminating the holders.

The Airlie Birds were dead and buried at half-time, but an incredible second half performance saw them overcome the odds and record a sensational and memorable victory to eliminate the cup holders and send shock waves through the game. A thoroughly deserved win for a never say die attitude, Hull FC into the quarter final draw.

Wigan Warriors: Field (T), Eckersley (T), Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith (G 3/4), Byrne, Leeming, Thompson, Nsemba (T), Farrell (T), Ellis. Subs: Mago, Dupree, Walters, Forber. 18^th Man: Hill.

Hull FC: Rapana, Barron, Briscoe, Hardaker, Martin (3T), Cust, Sezer (G 3/5), Ese’ese (T), Bourouh (T), Ashworth, Cartwright, Lane, Asiata (SB on 51).  Subs: Fash, Moy, Salabio, Knight. 18^th Man: .

Half-Time: 22-6.

Full-Time: 22-26.

Score Progression: 4-0, 8-0, 10-0, 14-0, 16-0, 16-4, 16-6, 18-6, 22-6 : HT: 22-10, (SB), 22-14, 22-18, 22-20, 22-24, 22-26 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Wigan - Hull FC.

Referee: Chris Kendall.