Widnes Vikings 42-14 Halifax Panthers

Widnes Vikings put on a show for the ViaPlay TV cameras as they defeated Halifax Panthers 42-14.

After falling behind to Lachlan Walmsley’s early try, Widnes turned on the style scoring some tremendous first half tries to virtually kill the contest by half time.

A brace for Kieran Dixon and further tries from Shane Grady, Ryan Millar and Danny Craven, which took him through the 350 points barrier for the club, made it 28-4 at the break.

Skipper Jack Owens and Grady’s second stretched the lead in the second half, before Walmsley and Matthew Gee scored late consolation tries for the Panthers either side of Joe Edge’s touchdown.

Team news

John Kear made just one change to his run-on 17 from the last gasp defeat at Bradford last weekend, with Sam Wilde coming in for Aaron Brown.

Wilde started in the second-row, with Olly Davies reverting to the bench along with Ant Walker, as Adam Lawton started the game at prop.

Story of the game

Widnes showed early glimpses of the defensive intensity that got them a strangle hold on the match early doors when Adam Lawton, Liam Bent and Shane Grady combined to drive a Panthers player back behind his own line to force a drop out.

However, an error from the drop out got Halifax an escape and a couple of other errors put the hosts under pressure, eventually resulting in Walmsley finding space in the left corner to open the scoring after nine minutes.

But things soon started to tick for the Vikings and a pinpoint kick by the excellent Danny Craven on the last tackle was caught and touched down by Kieran Dixon in the corner.

Craven was involved again moments later as Widnes went back-to-back, his break down the left setting up the field position for Shane Grady to crash over on the other side.

Halifax were struggling to cope with Widnes’ defence and good work by Craven almost had Louis Jouffret wrapped up on the half way line on the last tackle.

While that defence has been evident throughout the season, the attack clicked in a devastating fashion.

After forcing an error through their defensive efforts, Widnes moved the ball to the right and Ryan Millar scored his fifth try of the season in the corner.

The game was all but won with another back-to-back score in the final 10 minutes of the first half.

Craven kept the ball alive on the last tackle and Owens somehow got a kick away with his back to the line while being tackled, and it held up high enough for Dixon to climb above his man, catch and touch down.

Then a couple of tackles later, Owens pinned his ears back and made a fast break down the left hand side and found Craven in support on his right shoulder, with the stand off winning the race to the try line to pass 350 points in Vikings colours.

It was a very professional second half display to see out the game and skipper Owens got the first points of the half after nine minutes, shrugging off a tackler on the last to take Joe Lyons’ pass to the line.

Grady powered over for his second try and although Halifax managed two late consolations, either side of Joe Edge winning the race to touch down an Owens kick, it was a fine evening’s work.

Next game

Sunday 5 March – Sheffield Eagles (A) – 3pm

Teams and scorers

Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Ryan Millar, Matt Fleming, Joe Edge, Kieran Dixon, Danny Craven, Joe Lyons, Adam Lawton, Matty Fozard, Kyle Amor, Shane Grady, Sam Wilde, Liam Bent.

Interchanges: Olly Davies, Ant Walker, Callum Field, Lewis Hatton (18th man: Aaron Brown)

Tries: Dixon 2, Grady 2, Millar, Craven, Owens, Edge.

Goals: Dixon 5

Halifax Panthers: James Woodburn-Hall, James Saltonstall, Ben Tibbs, Jake Maizen, Lachlan Walmsley, Louis Jouffret, Joe Keyes, Will Calcott, Brandon Moore, Will Maher, Ben Kavanagh, Matthew Gee, Adam Tangata.

Interchanges: Kyle Wood, Jacob Fairbank, Suaia Matagi, Eribe Doro (18th man: Zack McComb)

Tries: Walmsley 2, Gee

Goals: Jouffret