Saturday 18th August 2012, 18:15 - Round:25

Hull FC’s top-four hopes suffered a jolt with a shock defeat at bottom side Widnes Vikings.

The Vikings, who had lost three games in a row, led 20-10 at half-time with full-back Shaun Briscoe turning in a top show against his old club.

Briscoe, plagued by injury this season, was back after a six match lay-off and was in devastating form. He scored two of Widnes’ eight tries as his side fought back from a 10-8 deficit midway through the first half.

Hull, who thrashed Widnes 58-10 at the KC Stadium in March, went into the clash defending an eight-year unbeaten record against the Vikings.

Widnes were missing Patrick Ah Van, Ben Cross, Steve Pickersgill and Chris Dean but skipper Jon Clarke and vice-captain Briscoe returned.

Paul McShane, on loan from Leeds Rhinos, was also back on the bench after a one-match ban with coach Denis Betts recalling Ben Kavanagh and Paddy Flynn for his 100th appearance.

Hull were also strengthened by the return of Joe Westerman from suspension and Richard Horne after a three-week injury lay-off.

However, Kirk Yeaman and Danny Nicklas were out as Hull targeted their fourth win in five games.

They made a shaky start with both Brett Seymour and Ben Crooks throwing passes straight into touch. The Airlie Birds recovered their composure to go ahead after seven minutes with Seymour and Ryan McGoldrick combining to send Jordan Turner over.

Widnes had a Willie Isa try disallowed by video referee Ian Smith before the winger scored a legitimate touchdown after 13 minutes when Tom Briscoe failed to deal with a high kick.

Isa took Shaun Briscoe’s pass to cross in the corner before the ex-Hull man cleverly put Flynn over on his landmark appearance to open up an 8-4 lead.

Hull regained the lead with a well-timed McGoldrick pass putting Westerman through and Jamie Foster tagged on the conversion.

Referee Steve Ganson had words with McGoldrick and Clarke after a brief skirmish following the try.

Briscoe fired Widnes back in front when he was quickest to react to Hanbury’s kick and Danny Craven landed the straightforward conversion to edge his side ahead 14-10.

The Vikings extended the lead when Frank Winterstein scored from another kick on the last tackle.

Hull needed a good start to the second half but it was Widnes who went further ahead when Willie Manu failed to gather Horne’s pass with Craven hacking the loose ball forward to score and stretch the lead to 24-10.

Hull’s problems mounted up when Isa notched his second try courtesy of Hanbury’s inside pass with McShane booting the goal.

Hull then lost youngster Tom Lineham who was helped off after a heavy tackle with the incident placed on report.

Tom Briscoe was denied a try, but Aaron Heremaia took advantage of some good fortune to notch Hull’s third try after 57 minutes with Foster’s conversion closing the gap to 30-16.

McGoldrick was placed on report for a high tackle on Hanbury and Hull were let down by elementary handling errors and lack of discipline.

Shaun Briscoe scored his second try from another inside pass from Hanbury 10 minutes from time after a Tom Briscoe mistake with McShane’s conversion opening up a 20-point lead with eight minutes left.

Hanbury then claimed the Vikings eighth try as Hull folded to extend the lead.