Challenge Cup 2013: Recapping Wigan Warriors' Gritty Win over Hull FC

It was never pretty, but the Wigan Warriors couldn't care less. 

In a rain-soaked Challenge Cup final that was marred by sloppy attacking play—one that the Observer's Andy Wilson, via The Guardian, said "will surely be forgotten inside 45 days"—the Cherry and Whites defeated Hull FC, 16-0 in front of 70,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. 

Sure, the game was far from enjoyable at times. The wet conditions paved the way for lots of mistakes, and as a result, neither side hit top form. Once again, though, Wigan, which captured its second Challenge Cup title in three years, simply doesn't care how it happened. 

Just check out the pride from brothers Logan and Sam Tomkins:

Despite the difficult conditions and sometimes poor levels of play, it was an absorbing or compelling match. 

The action in the first half was tight, as Hull bunkered down and fought off a series of Wigan attacks. Many of those attacks resulted from Black and Whites' mistakes on offense, but Hull did well to hold Wigan to just one try in the opening 40 minutes. 

Iain Thornley scored the try and Pat Richards added the conversion to make it 6-0 at halftime.

Hull didn't quit, though.

Trailing 8-0 in the second half, Jamie Shaul broke from deep in his own half and it took a spectacular tackle from Josh Charnley just yards from the Wigan try line to deny him a brilliant individual try.

The Black and Whites couldn't get anything going on offense, as the rain caused countless fumbles—and jokes about Daniel Holdsworth:

Holdsworth, normally a reliable player, struggled all afternoon, and with Jacob Miller their errors put an end to several attacking chances for Hull late in the second half. 

Sam Tomkins capped things off in the final seconds with a stunning finish for Wigan's second try, while Richards maintained his 100 percent accuracy with the boot to make it 16-0.

The poor conditions made for a clumsy game, as Hull was haunted by errors and scoring was limited. 

It wasn't a beautiful match, but there was no shortage of effort from both sides and Wigan was the deserved Challenge Cup winner.