Thomas Leuluai challenges for the Hull line

Hull: (14) 18
Tries: Raynor 2, R Horne
Goals: Tickle 3

Wigan: (10) 21
Tries: Richards, Hock, Colbon
Goals: Richards 4
Drops: Richards

Wigan got the better of Hull in a nerve-wracking encounter to set up a meeting with Leeds for the right to play St Helens in the Grand Final.

Second-half tries by Gareth Hock and Liam Colbon proved vital for the Warriors while Pat Richards hit another crucial drop goal.

Gareth Raynor ensured a grandstand finish when he went over with three minutes to go for his second try.

Hull threw everything forward but they could not get another score.

Reaction: Hull 18-21 Wigan

Brian Noble knew his side had to begin well and made a perfect start when Trent Barrett's kick was fumbled by Richard Whiting and touched down by Pat Richards.

Strong defence by Wigan kept Hull at bay but gradually the home side started to get into the game.

Matt Sing was stopped just short of the line by Mark Calderwood, who was sin-binned for holding his man down, while Sean O'Loughlin did well to stop Thomas Lee over the line.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Wigan's victory

But Wigan extended their lead further through a Richards penalty before the introduction of Australian half-back Mathew Head midway through the first half sparked a Hull revival.

Thomas Leuluai tried to shepherd Head's kick into the in-goal area out into touch but Raynor was chasing quickly and got to the ball before Leuluai to score a try.

It got worse for Wigan on 31 minutes when Richard Horne somehow managed to get over for his 100th career try, despite the efforts of four Wigan defenders who failed to stop him getting the ball over the line.

Tickle added the extras but another Richards penalty cut the lead to 14-10 at the break.

Hull tried to exert their authority at the start of the second half but it was Wigan who hit back with two quick tries to put them in command.

Leuluai made amends for his earlier error with a neat pass to put Gareth Hock in for his first try of the season. Richards missed the extras but moments later Colbon took Barrett's pass to cross and Richards made no mistake second time around.

Shane Millard was lucky to stay on the field after a high shot on Head but the hooker was put on report by referee Steve Ganson.

But the Warriors held firm in the face of Hull pressure and for the second week in a row Richards popped over a drop goal to make it 21-14.

Raynor linked up with Kirk Yeaman to go over in the corner with three minutes to play but Danny Tickle missed the extras.

Wigan were twice forced to drop out from their own posts in a tense finish but somehow they hung on for another famous victory.

"I thought their big-time players - Hock, Barrett and Richards - made the big plays at the right time.

"We didn't have any possession in the first 20 minutes of the second half, which killed us.

"But I'm very proud of the team. They've been great all year, despite the disruption we had."

"There are still two games to go. We are not getting carried away. There is still another game to get to the big game.

"We understand the measure of the task next week but we are showing the desire and effort. We have just got to be a bit smarter next week.

"Full credit goes to Hull, who tried to find a way to win it. What a fantastic show from them.

"We tried to close the game down a bit early, which is a lesson for our young blokes. It shows the team is pretty much together."

Hull: Tony, Sing, Whiting, Yeaman, Raynor, Washbrook, R. Horne, Dowes, Lee, Carvell, Radford, Manu, Tickle.
Replacements: Head, Godwin, G. Horne, Wheeldon.

Wigan: Richards, Calderwood, Bailey, Vaealiki, Colbon, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Millard, Paleaaesina, Hansen, Fletcher, O'Loughlin
Replacements: Goulding, Higham, Prescott, Hock.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens)