Super League: Wigan Warriors hold off Hull FC for win at KC Stadium
Wigan Warriors went three points ahead in the Super League table with a 28-20 win at Hull FC on Friday evening.
Last Updated: 26/04/13 10:16pm
Tomkins went over once in each half and there were also tries for Iain Thornley and Josh Charnley, while Pat Richards kicked six goals for the visitors at the KC Stadium.
Hull matched their opponents' four tries thanks to a Tom Lineham hat-trick and Ben Crooks but Joe Westerman only managed two goals and that proved the difference in the end as they suffered their first defeat in five matches.
In a news-heavy week, Wigan confirmed the arrival of rugby union international Andy Powell, the future departures of Gareth Hock, Lee Mossop and Richards, plus the likely exit of Tomkins. Powell was in the stands to watch his new team-mates.
The Warriors have scored points for fun this season and on their last visit to east Yorkshire put 84 on Hull KR. So, when they set about scoring two quick tries, the signs looked ominous for the home side.
Blake Green had already sent out a warning with a dart that was stopped by an ankle tap, but with 13 minutes gone Thornley barrelled his way over for a 10th of the season - although the home fans claimed a forward pass in the build-up. Richards was not one to question the decision, though, and slotted the extras, before laying on a brilliant second for Tomkins.
His 19th try of the year was topped up by Richards but to their credit, Hull decided to dig in and when Lineham spotted a gap in Wigan's defence, he drilled his way into it.
Rattled
Wigan were rattled and when Tomkins failed to hit a set-move pass from Green, it showed. Hull sensed their chance and seconds before the break closed to within two points when Ben Crooks reached out to touch down after Liam Watts had gone close.
Words from coach Shane Wane clearly had an effect on Wigan during the break and six minutes after the restart they were in again, Matty Smith and Tomkins combining to send Charnley in at the corner.
The try was not the prettiest on the eye but Wigan's fourth certainly was, with Jack Hughes breaking from his own half and feeding Tomkins for his 20th of the campaign under the posts.
As in the first half, though, a response was at hand, as Lineham got his second with 25 minutes left, swooping after Crooks got to Richard Horne's kick ahead of Richards. The wing has made a strong impression since breaking into Hull's first team this season, and a second treble of the campaign was not far away as he scrambled over the line after another pass from Crooks.
With Westerman finding his range to kick a second goal, Hull were back to within four points at 24-20 and, so concerned were Wigan that when they got two penalties 30 metres out, Richards kicked them both rather than playing for a try and the eight-point buffer that created proved enough.