Tonights two sides came into the game on the back of very different experiences over the last week. the home side were euphoric after taking the points off the champions last Monday at Langtree Park but the visitors were playing again just five days after a defeat in the south of France and a delay in their trip back home due to industrial action.

Denis Betts had rested a few key players for the long trip south and made seven changes ahead of tonight's game, knowing full well the importance of this fixture. FC had the new found confidence that a win against last years Grand Final winners can instil and were looking to make a charge on the eight.

It was Hull who drew first blood on the back of a Widnes knock on and a quick penalty. As they tested the Widnes defensive line they moved the ball right and Shaul fed Lineham to score in the corner, the first of a great hat-trick for the Black and Whites winger. Rankin missed the conversion but the home supporters were happy with the start.

On nineteen, and with two Widnes players being stitched up in the dressing room after a nasty head clash, the visitors got back on level terms thanks to a Heremaia intercept and break down field. A kick to the corner appeared to be knocked on by Ah Van but on the next play the ball Brown spun over from acting half back. Owens failed to convert and left the score at four apiece.

On twenty-eight the game swung back to Hull as Lineham intercepted a Brown pass and went ninety metres to ground as the KC Stadium erupted. Rankin added the two and sent his side into the interval at 10-4.

In a replica of his second try, Lineham opened the second half scoring with another long intercept. Rankin goaled again and you feared for the Vikings as they trailed 16-4 against a Hull side who were starting to dominate all elements of play.

Fourteen from the end and a Rankin grubber came back off the posts into the hands of Shaul to dive over for FC's fifth of the night and Rankins goal extinguished any hope of a late Vikings rally.

There was a consolation for Ah Van ten minutes from the end as he miraculously grounded with half of his body over the sideline in the air. Owens again missed the difficult conversion and left his side 22-8 down and anchored second bottom in Super League XX.

FC are now up to ninth, leapfrogging Widnes and the Warrington Wolves and with their recent turnaround in form who would bet against them making the top flight in the super eights?

Hull FC: Shaul, Lineham, Michaels, Talanoa, Naughton, Pryce, Rankin, Paea, Houghton, Bowden, Sa, Minichiello, Westerman. Subs: Paleaasina, Thompson, Cunningham, Howarth

Vikings: Hanbury, Owens, Phelps, Marsh, Ah Van, Brown, Mellor, O'Carroll, White, Dudson, Dean, Galea, Gerrard. Subs: Joseph, Manuokafoa, Whitley, Heremaia.

Referee: Richard Silverwood
Attendance: 9,295