Hull FC beat Leeds 18-12 as Wigan clinch League Leaders' Shield

Hull FC beat Leeds Rhinos 18-12 at Headingley to finish their Super League season with an away victory, while the result helped settle the race for the League Leaders' Shield. According to BBC Sport's match report, Leeds' defeat, combined with Wigan Warriors' 50-12 win over Catalans Dragons, secured the shield for Wigan.

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The sides were level at 6-6 at half-time after Logan Moy put Hull ahead and Chris Hankinson replied for Leeds. Hull regained the lead through Lloyd Kemp following an unsuccessful short drop-out by the hosts. Leeds then missed opportunities to draw level because of handling errors before Lennon Clark scored the visitors' third try. Kemp converted all three Hull tries, while Jake Connor kicked two goals for Leeds.

Kallum Watkins scored with three minutes remaining to bring Leeds back into contention, but Hull protected their advantage through the closing stages. The visitors had entered the match with only seven wins from 26 league games. Their three tries came from homegrown players: Kemp, aged 19, and Moy and Clark, both 21. The result also marked Tom Briscoe's retirement, with the Hull player winning on his 400th and final Super League appearance.

The victory ended a troubled campaign for Hull. BBC Sport reported that John Cartwright left as head coach in March after being told his contract would not be renewed beyond the season. Andy Last took interim charge, and a 12-match losing sequence prompted the club's owners to apologise to supporters in July. Former England coach Steve McNamara is due to take over for 2027.

For second-placed Leeds, the defeat extended a difficult run ahead of the play-offs. Brad Arthur's team have now lost four of their past nine matches and three successive home games, having remained unbeaten at Headingley until August. Maika Sivo, the league's leading try-scorer, returned after two months out with a broken arm, but his comeback did not produce a win for the hosts.

Leeds will next host their play-off semi-final on Friday, 25 September, giving them two weeks between this defeat and that fixture. Another home loss would end their hopes of reaching the Grand Final. Hull's season, meanwhile, closed with a win after their lengthy losing run earlier in the campaign.