Graham McKay was the hero as Hull climbed up to second place in Super League, the veteran Australian centre striking twice in five second half minutes to swing a thrilling match decisively in the visitors' favour.

But Hull had to withstand a late fightback as tries from Halifax's Colum Halpenny and Andrew Dunemann set up a grandstand finish.

A fiery but entertaining first half got off to a good start for Hull as Matt Crowther punished a stray Halifax elbow with a 55-metre penalty on three minutes.

But Blue Sox, playing with renewed spirit after their humiliating defeat in London a week earlier, hit back four minutes later with a try for Robby Beckett.

The Aussie, switched from the right to left wing for the match, was in the right place to capitalise on a mistake by Hull's Toa Kohe-Love and Jason Smith, who failed to deal with Gavin Clinch's high kick, to pounce on the loose ball.

And Beckett did it again on 20 minutes, this time gathering Shayne McMenemy's chip to score in the corner.

But from the kick-off Beckett turned from hero to villain as he fumbled on the first tackle.

Hull regained possession and won a penalty five metres out, the ball was switched to the right where Kohe-Love timed his pass to perfection for winger Gareth Raynor to score.

But the tempers rose and Hull prop Craig Greenhill was penalised for striking, and Jamie Bloom's penalty gave Halifax a four-point advantage at the break.

But Hull emerged for the second half in a far more determined mood and influential loose forward Jason Smith levelled the scores on 47 minutes with a superb individual try, dummying Jim Gannon and diving between two defenders to score, with Crowther adding the goal.

The visitors turned the screw when another period of intense pressure was rounded-off with two tries for McKay, the second an excellent effort from Richard Horne's reverse pass.

Crowther added a goal to give Hull a 12-point advantage.

But Halifax, seeking only their second win in six games, showed great spirit as first Halpenny and then Dunemann scored tries to leave Halifax four points adrift with eight minutes to play.

But despite their best efforts Hull locked them out to secure a narrow but deserved win.