Dennis Betts’ Widnes Vikings sent a message to the rest of the Super League with a 36-16 win over a desperately poor Hull FC side at the Stobart Stadium.

The team that picked up last year’s wooden spoon fought back after losing 10-12 at half time.

Joe Westerman scored early for Hull before Paddy Flynn brought the Vikings within two points but Ben Galea extended Hull’s lead to six points. Flynn grabbed his second to bring the Vikings back into the game before the half time hooter.

The second half, however, was all Widnes as Hull made error after error and gave easy ball to the Vikings. Cameron Phelps scored a brace and Chris Dean, Frank Winterstein and Gareth Hock completed a miserable night for Peter Gentle’s Hull FC side who scored a consolation try in the half through Tom Lineham.

FC took an early lead through Westerman after an offload from Lynch. Horne took the ball and dodged a tackle to make the pass inside to Westerman who dived over the line. He converted his own try to give Hull a 6-0 lead.

After Westerman’s opening try, Widnes found their feet in the game and enjoyed the majority of possession, and their pressure eventually told with an impressive individual effort from Flynn. The winger stepped inside and stretched his arm to the line despite being tackled by Kirk Yeaman, Tom Briscoe and Shannon McDonnell.

The visitors missed an opportunity to take advantage of an interception, but it wasn’t long until they found themselves on the scoreline again. The Vikings gave away a penalty for a high tackle and Galea crashed through the line from five metres from Brett Seymour’s short pass.

A wayward pass from Seymour brought Widnes back into the game with an 80 yard break from Flynn for his second try. Richard Horne played the ball to Seymour who attempted a long ball out to Briscoe but his pass was well forward and sailed into Flynn’s hands. The winger made a break from inside his 20 metre line and reached the line just before Lineham could make a tackle from the opposite wing.

At the start of the second half FC gave away a penalty for not standing square, giving the Vikings possession deep in FC’s half. Hock drove the ball towards Hull’s line and offload inside the Phelps who had the legs to reach the corner and as McDonnell made a tackle he span his body round to find space to grab a try against his old side.

FC gave away another two penalties at the start of the next phase of play and Widnes extended their lead through Dean. Brown kicked a ball to the posts on the last tackle and Dean came in for the ball amidst the confusion between Hull’s defence to score.

From the kick off Phelps stepped into touch after taking the ball in the in goal area giving FC the opportunity for their first attacking set in the half but Hanbury’s drop out bounced ahead of Galea and into touch giving Widnes the ball back. FC were spared after a knock-on on the half way line gifted them possession.

Gareth Hock was warned by referee Phil Bentham after a number of offences in quick succession and lost both Stefan Marsh and Brown through injury.

Despite the Viking’s injury worries Hull were becoming their own worst enemies coming up with a number of errors and penalties. After reaching Hull’s ten metre line Widnes went on the blindside from the play of the ball and Hanbury passed outside to Phelps who walked through Hull’s defence to score.

Against the run of play Lineham came up with a 30 metre try to bring Hull within eight points of Widnes. He took the ball from Horne and raced to the line, backing himself against two covering defenders to firmly plant the ball down.

Just as Hull looked to have been finding their feet in the second half, a knock on from Briscoe gave Widnes possession on the 20 metre line and Winterstein went on to score. The Samoan second row bust through a poor attempted tackle from Houghton and dived over the line before McDonnell could make a tackle.

Hock put his name on the scoresheet to compound the misery for Gentle’s side, which is still searching for its first away win. The ex-Wigan second rower took a pass from short range from Jon Clarke and stretched his arm out to score.

Hull FC remain on three points after a disappointing start to the season as the Vikings leapfrog them in the table and move up to ninth in the table on four points.

Widnes: Hanbury, Flynn, Marsh, Phelps, Ah Van; Brown, Mellor’ Cross, Clarke, O’Carroll, Hock, Dean, Cahill.
Replacements: Winterstein, Kavanagh, White, Gerrard.

T: Flynn 2, Phelps 2, Dean, Winterstein, Hock
G: Hanbury 2/3, Ah Van 2/4

Hull FC: McDonnell, Lineham, Arundel, Yeaman, Briscoe; Horne, Seymour; O’Meley, Houghton, Lynch, Galea, Westerman, Whiting.
Replacements: Heremaia, Tickle, Johnson, Pitts.

T: Westerman, Galea, Lineham
G: Westerman 2/3

RLFANS Man of the Match: Rhys Hanbury

HT: 10-12
FT: 36-16