Wigan claim home comfort
Two tries apiece from Amos Roberts and George Carmont saw Wigan overcome Hull 34-22 at the DW Stadium.
Last Updated: 05/09/09 10:55am
Two tries apiece from Amos Roberts and George Carmont saw Wigan overcome Hull 34-22 and book a home tie in the Super League play-offs as a result.
The Warriors were made to fight for the two points by a Hull side battling hard to preserve their own faint top-eight hopes, but Sam Tomkins and Iafeta Paleaaesina ended their post-season aspirations late on.
Hull had briefly led through former Wigan forward Danny Tickle as the game came to life after 30 scoreless minutes, but the Warriors proved too strong after the interval.
Second-half tries from Richard Horne, Tom Briscoe and Craig Hall proved mere consolation as Wigan's eighth win in nine games quashed Hull's play-off hopes.
Shell-shocked
The opening score came on the half hour when Sean O'Loughlin made an arcing run to the right touchline and brilliantly flicked a pass inside for Roberts to touch down.
Hull responded immediately through Tickle, but even after he converted his own score to put the visitors ahead, Wigan regained the lead six minutes later through Carmont.
Pat Richards kicked the first of five goals to give Wigan a 10-6 lead at half-time, but two tries in the space of four second half minutes left Hull shell-shocked.
Carmont picked off a Tickle pass to race over unchallenged from 40 metres, and Roberts then raced on to a Mark Flanagan pass and brushed off Richard Whiting to touch down.
Hull managed to stem the flow and gained a measure of control after introducing their much-maligned scrum-half Chris Thorman off the bench before the hour.
Tempo
The visitors pulled a try back on 63 minutes as a forceful run by Ewan Dowes put Richard Horne through by the posts, and Tickle converted.
Butt Wigan raised the tempo to ensure there would be no fightback as Tomkins wriggled his way through two tackles and ducked under another to score.
Paleaaesina then barged his way through in typical fashion to kill off the game, although there was still time for Hall to score and convert a late breakaway.