The first of the weekends semi-finals took place at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster as league leaders Hull FC took on third placed Wigan Warriors for a place at Wembley at the end of August.

The bookies had named the Warriors as slight favourites despite them losing their last two games and finishing the regular rounds of Super a League two points behind FC. Honours are even so far this season with both sides winning on the road.

It was a full strength FC side but Wigan were without several first choice players including Frank-Paul Nuuausala who was suspended after fighting last week, and Josh Charnley serving the second of a two game ban for manhandling the referee.

After absorbing all of the early Hull pressure it was the Warriors who struck first on seventeen through George Williams who used the field position gained after a lazy Liam Watts penalty conceded for a high tackle to trick the FC defence and dive for the line to score. Matty Smith added the two for a 6-0 lead, a little against the run of play.

After two quick Hull penalties, the second after a head high tackle by Ben Flower, there was a simple opportunity for Marc Sneyd to get the scoreboard rolling for the Airlie Birds with twenty-six on the clock.

Both sides then had tries ruled out, Hull's for grounding just short of the line, and Wigan for a forward pass. Despite finishing the half on the attack FC trailed by four at the interval in a real nail-biter of a match.

With the second half four minutes old, Matty Smith kicked a penalty from in front of the uprights for 8-6. Three minutes later and great hands from Hull, keeping the ball alive, saw Steve Michaels go over in the corner off a Mahe Fonua pass. Sneyd converted brilliantly from the touchline to level the scores.

On fifty-one a Sneyd high kick to the corner on the last was fumbled by Dom Manfredi in his own in-goal and as the ball went to ground it was touched down by Fetuli Talanoa. Sneyd was again accurate with the boot from wide to take his side six points ahead at 14-8.

When Flower interfered at the play-the-ball on the last tackle, Sneyd kicked the penalty for an eight point margin as the clock ticked past the hour.

Ten minutes from time and Wigan were right back in it. Williams passed to Willie Isa to put him through a gap to dive over. Matty Smith missed what looked like a simple kick and Hull had a slender four point lead.

The last ten minutes were thrilling. Wigan threw everything that they and at Hull but the Black & Whites defence held firm despite an absolute battering. It was FC who booked their place at Wembley to face either Warrington or Wakefield as they send Wigan to their third consecutive loss.

This was a real blood and thunder semi-final which was a credit to both defences. The difference was the boot of Marc Sneyd who kicked his side to Wembley.

Warriors: Tomkins, Tierney, Sarginson, Gildart, Manfredi, Williams (T), Smith (2G), Sutton, Powell, Flower, Bateman, Isa (T), O'Loughlin. Subs: Crosby, Tautai, Bretherton, Mossop.

FC: Shaul, Michaels (T), Fonua, Yeaman, Talanoa (T), Tuimavave, Sneyd (4G), Taylor, Houghton, Watts, Minichiello, Manu, Ellis. Subs: Green, Thompson, Pritchard, Washbrook.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Attendance: