As lucky as Hull - RFL must deal with the fall-out as Agar's men nick semi

Hull are arguably the luckiest club to reach a Challenge Cup Final after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in two rounds of this year's competition.

But that was the last thing on their minds as they emerged triumphant from the gruelling semi-final against Wakefield and their former coach John Kear in Doncaster.

Wembley will echo to a mighty chorus of 'Old Faithful' when the black-andwhites walk out alongside favourites St Helens at on August 30.

Glory boys: Hull celebrate the victory which took them to Wembley

The RFL let them off with a £100,000 fine - £40,000 of it suspended - for their breach of the competition rules. But Hull have paid their dues so if there is any embarrassment it is the RFL's.

Ironically, Jamie Thackray, the prop forward who unwittingly achieved notoriety by playing against Rochdale and Widnes before it was discovered he had been signed from Leeds after the Challenge Cup deadline, was substituted before the end of the first quarter.

Hull coach Richard Agar, in only his 10th game, said the decision was 'tactical' because Wakefield were threatening a magnificent revival after falling 18-0 down in the first 11 minutes.

'I think our start actually hurt us because we took our eye off the ball,' said Agar, Kear's assistant when Hull beat Leeds to win the Cup three years ago in Cardiff.

'Both sides were very edgy and we certainly showed a lack of composure when Wakefield got back to 18-10.

'We'll have to play better than that to beat St Helens but I think we've managed to redeem ourselves after a poor year and we've given our supporters a trip to Wembley.'

Wakefield, hoping Challenge Cup specialist Kear could work his magic again, were caught cold on one of the year's hottest days. Clearly Agar had identified a weakness in Wakefield's defence under the high ball on the left and twice Adam Dykes set up tries for back rower Danny Tickle, who converted them.

Then, down the same flank, centre Graeme Horne dummied his way over from Danny Washbrook's pass and again Tickle converted. Kear's game-plan was in tatters. Or was it?

The fightback started with Matt Petersen's try and Damien Blanch got another before Peter Cusack punished a Wakefield error and Tickle's flawless kicking sent Hull in 24-10 up at the break.

If Wakefield's Danny Brough, Hull's match-winner in the 2005 final, had matched Tickle's accuracy the story could have been different. Wakefield gnawed away at Hull's defence in the heat and equalled their try haul of five.

They also had a crucial video call go against them at 24-32 when Blanch thought he had completed a hat-trick 10 minutes from the end.

'I was confident and it would have made the last few minutes very interesting,' said Kear. 'We'd got off to the worst possible start but I have to compliment the players for showing the desire to get back into the game and our supporters for lifting them.

'In the end, Hull simply had more of the ball. I'm not blaming Danny Brough for missing a few kicks because he's won games for us. But Tickle was impeccable.'

Tevita Leo-Latu and Ryan Atkins were Wakefield's other try-scorers with Washbrook also crossing for Hull.