Dallas strikes late to help injury-hit Wigan plunder spoils
Hull 15 Wigan 21
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Your support makes all the difference.A Brett Dallas try six minutes from time helped Wigan to once again defy the odds and secure a tremendous victory over Hull at the KC Stadium.
A Brett Dallas try six minutes from time helped Wigan to once again defy the odds and secure a tremendous victory over Hull at the KC Stadium.
The visitors, missing seven first-team regulars through injury, overturned a 14-0 half-time deficit to secure a maximum points haul over the Easter period in a lacklustre match riddled with penalties.
Captain Richard Swain's broken arm meant Peter Lupton was brought in at hooker, while Nathan Blacklock, Shaun Briscoe, Tom Saxton and Chris Chester all returned to the starting 13.
Injuries forced Wigan coach Denis Betts to employ Chris Melling and Wayne Godwin as an untried half-back pairing while 19-year-old James Coyle made his Super League debut.
The tone for the first half was set in the first minute when Briscoe was brought down inches short of the Wigan line.
Richard Whiting also breached the line shortly after and it was no surprise when Cooke's superb pass sent Chester over in the corner to open the scoring. The impressive Danny Brough, making only his second Super League start, added the extras.
The lead was increased further in the 14th minute when, after Brough exploited some weak Wigan marking, Lupton was able to create an overlap and send Stephen Kearney in.
Brough again goaled and it was his kicking game which provided the base for Hull's first-half dominance.
Terry Newton wasted Wigan's best chance of a score just before the break when he aimlessly flung a pass into touch after they forced a repeat set of six for the first time in the game.
Brough added a late penalty goal, the 15th penalty of the opening period, to send the hosts in 14-0 ahead.
As Hull tried to capitalise on Wigan's seemingly tiring defence, they were dealt a surprise blow themselves, when Liam Colbon intercepted Cooke's speculative pass out wide to race the length of the field and open Wigan's account. Danny Tickle's conversion offered the visitors serious hope against all odds with just under 30 minutes remaining.
In a spell of Wigan dominance that ensued, another penalty allowed Tickle to reduce the deficit to just six points.
Whiting's 66th-minute drop-goal handed the home side seven points worth of breathing space but that was immediately cut as Harrison Hansen managed to touch down in the corner when he appeared to have no room to manoeuvre. Tickle's superb touchline goal meant that just one point separated the sides with 10 minutes left.
Dallas was handed the opportunity to score in the corner on the back of yet more Wigan pressure, and the winger did not disappoint, crossing for his fourth try of the season to break Hull's hearts.
Tickle again goaled from the touchline, and his last-minute drop-goal, after Briscoe lost possession, confirmed the win.
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