Tickle torments Vikings

Willie Manu: bagged a brace, crossing once in each half for the Black and Whites

Danny Tickle: scored four tries and kicked nine goals for the home team

Danny Tickle scored four tries and took the Man of the Match award as Hull FC recorded a resounding 58-10 victory over Super League newcomers Widnes on Sunday.

Hull's biggest win of the season reinforced their play-off credentials and sent a message to the top four they may have extra competition this year in the form of Peter Gentle's side.

Beaten only once in 2012, Hull have quietly gone about their business so far this year, but will have made many sit up and take notice with the manner they relentlessly ripped the Vikings apart with a 10-try display.

Unfortunately for Widnes coach Dennis Betts, his side reverted to type and the heroics which brought them a shock one-point win at home to Wigan last week where nowhere to be seen.

The Vikings have now conceded 310 points already this season and with only seven games played, that is an alarming figure for the basement strugglers.

Relentless

Hull showed no concern for the visitors' plight however and went after their opponents relentlessly, running in tries almost at will.

Hull never looked in any danger of losing the match after racing off to a quick 12-point lead thanks to tries for second-row duo Tickle and Willie Manu.

Airlie Birds captain Andy Lynch and scrum-half Brett Seymour had a hand in the build-up to both scores and, when Lynch went on his own with a solo effort from 10 metres out, Hull had already amassed a formidable lead without really even breaking sweat.

Hull's victories this season have been built on the meanest defence in Super League, but it was their work with the ball in hand which caught the eye against the Vikings.

Holding the upper hand Hull found the freedom to be more expansive and it worked to their favour when Tickle crashed over for his second try of the game on the 20-minute mark.

Tasty Tickle

On the last tackle, Tickle's presence alone on the touchline seemed to go unnoticed by a Widnes defence expecting the ball to be kicked crossfield, but when the alert Seymour shifted his position and found Tickle, the Vikings were helpless to prevent his second and Hull's fourth try.

For Betts' team worse was to follow when Tickle completed his hat-trick, this time taking an inside pass 20 metres out before carving through the Widnes defence with alarming ease.

The game was won and the floodgates then opened. Manu popped up on the end of a Danny Houghton pass for his second, before Richard Whiting and Sam Moa got in on the act.

Hull had nine tries and all from forwards, then to complete their scoring winger Tom Briscoe finished off a break under the posts.

With a quarter of the game remaining Hull should have scored more, but to their credit Widnes kept going and while it was scant reward, two late tries for Paddy Flynn at least gave their travelling support something to cheer.

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