Wigan Warriors 48 Hull FC 24: Early blitz leaves Hull with far too much to do

Hull were on the back foot from the start as Pat Richards, Darrell Goulding, Martin Gleeson and Amos Roberts struck to establish an 18-point lead.

New Hull skipper Sean Long was back to face his hometown club and, roundly booed with every touch of the ball, all he had to show for his efforts was a cut head until he grabbed a consolation try five minutes from the end.

The first points came courtesy of the boot of Richards, who kicked a penalty on 11 minutes and followed it up with the game's first try four minutes later.

The Warriors extended their lead midway through the half when Goulding, switched to centre in place of the injured George Carmont, produced a brilliant solo effort, wrong-footing the defence with a 180-degree turn and fending off two tacklers.

Hull struck back with a well-worked try from centre Richard Whiting, who finished off another break from the dangerous Richard Horne. However, Wigan finished the half in total control, with Gleeson taking Joel Tomkins' pass and side-stepping his way over for the third try.

Roberts made no mistake when the ball bounced kindly following O'Loughlin's chip over the Hull defence and Richards kicked his fourth goal.

Six minutes into the second half Wigan extended their lead with Goulding's second try.

Sam Tomkins then touched twice before Hull winger Craig Hall's 68th-minute try briefly stemmed the tide. Phelps completed the rout when he finished off another glorious move before Hull produced a spirited finish with tries from Long and Hornel.

Wigan: Phelps, Roberts, Gleeson, Goulding, Richards, S. Tomkins, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Coley, Hansen, J. Tomkins, O'Loughlin. Substitutes: Prescott, Bailey, O'Carroll, Mossop.

Hull: Tansey, Hall, Whiting, Yeaman, T. Briscoe, Horne, Long, O'Meley, Berrigan, Dowes, Tickle, Manu, Fitzgibbon. Substitutes: Radford, Lauaki, Cusack, Houghton.

Referee: T Alibert (Toulouse)

ST HELENS saw off the challenge of Brian Noble's Crusaders 37-30 at Knowsley Road.