Hull 22 Widnes Vikings 8

A HAT-TRICK of tries for Hull winger Tom Lineham broke Widnes hearts as they went down 22-8 at the KC Stadium.

Two of Lineham's tries came from long-distance interceptions which provided massive swings in momentum and ultimately proved the difference between the sides.

Vikings coach Denis Betts welcomed back five first-teamers from the side that lost 32-16 to Catalans Dragons on Easter Monday.

Rhys Hanbury, Kevin Brown, Joe Mellor, Eamon O'Carroll and Gil Dudson were all back in harness.

Widnes started the game looking sprightly and had the better of the opening exchanges but their first mistake of the game, a mix-up between Lloyd White and Gil Dudson, created the field position for Hull to open the scoring.

Fullback Jamie Shaul joined the line and showed good fotwork before putting Lineham in at the corner on 10 minutes.

The home side engineered a similar opportunity two minutes later but Vikings wide man Patrick Ah Van came to the rescue with a timely intervention.

Half way through the first period a Kevin Brown bomb caused chaos in the Hull defence and from the next play Brown was able to wriggle over from dummy-half to level things up at 4-4.

Just when it looked Widnes were ready to take control, they were hit by Lineham's first sucker punch. A cut-out pass from Brown was read perfectly by the big winger who intercepted before running 90 metres for an opportunist score.

Jordan Rankin added the extras to give Hull a 10-6 lead they took into the break.

There was every reason to believe the Vikings were still in the match and they applied some early pressure but Lineham again ruined their momentum with his favourite party trick.

This time it was a Rhys Hanbury pass that he plucked out of the air near his own line before pinning his ears back for another full length try depite a valiant chase back by Joe Mellor.

Rankin's second goal gave his side a handy 16-4 lead and try as they might, the Vikings struggled to find the killer pass near the Hull line.

On 67 minutes, the Airlie Birds effectively killed the game off when the impressive Shaul latched onto a grubber-kick that ricocheted off the post.

The game was effectively up at 22-4 but winger Ah Van provided a consolation for the Vikings with a trademark finish at the left corner.

Hull: Shaul; Lineham, Michaels, Talanoa, Naughton; Pryce, Rankin; Paea, Houghton, Bowden, Sa, Minichiello, Westerman. Subs: Palea'aesina, Thompson, Cunningham, Howarth.

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

Referee: R Silverwood