LONDON, July 27, 2008 (AFP) - Hull saw off a spirited fightback from a Wakefield side coached by their former boss John Kear to secure a 32-24 win on Saturday that booked their place in next month's Challenge Cup final at Wembley against St Helens.

Hull raced into an 18-0 lead inside nine minutes at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium before Wakefield fought back.

But with both teams scoring five tries, it was the goalkicking of Hull's Danny Tickle, who landed all six of his attempts, that proved decisive with the former Wigan forward also scoring two tries in the first eight minutes.

By contrast, former Hull scrum-half Danny Brough, whose kicking helped his old side beat Leeds in the 2005 Challenge Cup final in Cardiff, was on target with just two of his six efforts and also saw a drop-goal attempt hit the woodwork.

Victory was a triumph for Hull coach Richard Agar, whose team were fortunate not to have been thrown out of this season's Challenge Cup after fielding the ineligible Jamie Thackray in the fourth and fifth rounds.

Agar only took over as Hull boss from Peter Sharp two months ago but will now emulate his father, Alan Agar, a former Featherstone coach, by leading his side out at Wembley.

Wakefield went into this match on the back of four successive league defeats and they gave themselves a mountain to climb by conceding three early tries.

Tickle, who also kicked a 56th minute penalty, made sure Hull got maximum value every time they crossed the Wakefield line and there was no way back for Trinity when winger Damien Blanch, who'd already scored, was denied a try by the video referee for brushing the corner flag before touching down.