WIDNES'S four game winning streak was brought to a shuddering halt as they went down 25-12 to Hull at the Select Security Stadium.

For the second game running Airlie Birds' winger Tom Lineham crossed for a hat-trick to ultimately prove the difference between the sides.

But it was the visitors pack that played a massive part in winning the game for Lee Radford's men with a tireless 80-minute effort.

To make matters worse for Widnes, star man Kevin Brown, who signed a new contract earlier in the day, was helped from the field with ten minutes to go after falling awkwardly in a tackle.

Vikings coach Denis Betts solved his selection headache in the threequarters by selecting Matt Whitley, normally a back-rower, in the centre berth.

Widnes started like a house on fire and went ahead after seven minutes when Rhys Hanbury sent Jack Owens clear up the right flank and the young winger did well to force his way over. Owens added a fine touchline goal.

The Vikings continued to press and Hanbury was again the provider as he raced clear before sending Whitley under the posts untouched to make it 12-0.

Hull hit back with practically their first attack of the game when Gareth Ellis released Lineham and he showed his strength in bulldozing his way over the whitewash.

Marc Sneyd couldn't convert and he was again off target when Leon Pryce burrowed his way in from dummy-half to reduce the deficit to 12-8.

The Vikings had a couple of half chances to increase their lead but both Stefan Marsh and Macgraff Leuluai were stopped short.

On the brink of half-time, pressure on the Widnes line resulted in Hull hitting the front for the first time. A chip to the corner found Lineham in acres of space to touch down and Sneyd's goal made it 14-12.

The Vikings created the second half's first scoring opportunities but failed to convert position into points.

Instead it was the visitors who increased their advantage when Sneyd grubbered through near the line and regathered to score at the posts to make it into a six-pointer.

Hull's resilient defence was keeping the Vikings at bay and they increased their lead to 24-12 when Lineham's hat-trick try was put on a plate by fullback Jamie Shaul.

A Sneyd drop-goal almost immediately followed to push the lead out to 13 points and it was always going to be tough for Widnes to get back even with nearly a quarter of the game remaining.

The Vikings were nothing if not game and threw what they could at the opposition even after Brown's withdrawal.

But Hull closed out a deserved win without too many alarms.

Widnes: Hanbury; Owens, Marsh, Whitley, Ah Van; Brown, Mellor; Gerrard, White, Dudson, Clarkson, Galea, Isa. Subs: Heremaia, Leuluai, Manuokafoa, Joseph.

Hull: Shaul; Lineham, Whiting, Yeaman, Michaels; Pryce, Sneyd; Paea, Houghton, Watts, Ellis, Minichiello, Westerman. Subs: Palea'aesina, Green, Thompson, Abdul.

Half-Time: 12-14.

Referee: P Bentham.

Attendance: 5,573.