Hull FC 12-18 Wigan: Warriors come from behind to defeat Hull in race for League Leader's Shield

Taulima Tautai helped seal a 18-12 win for Wigan over Hull FC on Friday

Wigan kept alive their hopes of winning the League Leader's Shield with a battling 18-12 victory over treble-chasing Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium.

Shaun Wane's side looked out of the match at half-time after Fetuli Talanoa and Mahe Fonua had given the hosts a 12-4 lead, following an early score from George Williams.

However, the Warriors fought back through tries from Sam Powell and Taulima Tautai to extend Wigan's unbeaten run at Hull to eight consecutive matches.

Fetuli Talanoa put Hull ahead midway through the first half

After an opening 10 minutes littered with handling errors, the visitors took the lead against the run of play.

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Hull looked destined to score in the corner before an Anthony Gelling interception set George Williams up for a superb break-away try, which Matty Smith failed to convert.

The home side were sparked into life and hit back through Talanoa, who did well to finish in the corner under pressure from Josh Charnley. Marc Sneyd successfully added the extras.

Mahe Fonua capped a fine performance with a first half try

Fonua then capped a brilliant first-half performance with a try on the opposite wing, which Sneyd was unable to convert.

However, the 25-year-old immediately atoned for his error by kicking a remarkable 55m penalty from inside his own half to hand Hull a 12-4 lead at half-time.

Sneyd started the second half in similarly impressive form - successfully nailing a 40/20 kick to set Hull up for another attack on Wigan's line.

Nothing came from that passage of play and the hosts were made to pay 20 minutes later when Powell barged his way over from dummy half for a six-point try underneath the posts.

Sam Powell sparked the comeback for Wigan with a second half try

And the comeback was completed five minutes before the final whistle when Tautai stretched out an arm to finish superbly underneath the posts.

Smith successfully converted and, following a mistake from Sneyd and the restart, sealed the victory with a penalty in the closing stages of the match.

Wigan move level on points with Hull in the Super 8s table - three points behind leaders Warrington, who defeated Widnes.

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