Widnes Vikings returned to winning ways with an emphatic 38-6 victory over Swinton Lions at the Betfred Championship Summer Bash.
Ryan Ince, Kieran Dixon and Jack Owens all scored twice, with Joe Lyons also getting on the scoresheet shortly before half-time.
The result lifts the Vikings up to fifth in the table, with the teams around all still to take to the field in Round 12.
It was also a second victory of the season against the Lions for the Vikings, following an emphatic 48-16 win at Heywood Road on Good Friday.
Team news
Head coach John Kear was able to welcome back half-back Tom Gilmore and second-rower Shane Grady for the Summer Bash.
Andrew Dixon also made his Vikings debut after joining on loan during the week, while Adam Lawton and Aaron Brown were named on the bench having missed last Sunday’s defeat to league leaders Featherstone Rovers.
Zach Eckersley, Callum Field, Lewis Hatton, Max Roberts and Will Tilleke all made way.
Story of the game
Despite creating plenty of pressure in the early exchanges, it took until the 28th minute for the Vikings to post first points of the afternoon.
The returning Tom Gilmore threw a beautiful looping pass over the top for Ryan Ince, who dived over spectacularly in the corner.
Soon after, Gilmore combined with half-back partner Joe Lyons, who stepped his way over from close range.
Right at the end of the first half, the Vikings crossed for a third time as Gilmore and Jack Owens combined to send Kieran Dixon over for a walk-in.
The second half began in cagey fashion, with neither side troubling the scoreboard for the opening 15 minutes of it.
However, the Vikings defensive line was breached before the hour mark when Sam Royle collected a neat Amir Bourouh offload and touched down under the posts.
It would only prove to be a consolation as the Vikings responded with a try of their own minutes later. Straight from a scrum, the ball was moved right at pace and Owens was able to power his way over in the right corner.
Ince was soon able to stretch the advantage courtesy of another diving finish out wide, with Tom Gilmore taking over kicking duties from Joe Edge and nailing a beautiful conversion from the touchline to make it 24-6.
The Lions would play the final few minutes with 11 men after Rhodri Lloyd and Mike Butt were sent to the sin-bin in quick succession. Butt’s yellow card gave Gilmore the opportunity to knock over another two points from close range.
Sheer weight of numbers allowed Edge to set up Dixon for the Vikings’ sixth try of the afternoon not long after, and Owens then produced a superb solo effort to round off the scoring under the posts.
Gilmore maintained his 100% record with the boot after the full-time hooter sounded, wrapping up a commanding victory at York’s LNER Community Stadium.
Next game
Sunday 4 June – London Broncos (H) – 3:00pm
Teams and scorers
Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Ryan Ince, Matt Fleming, Joe Edge, Kieran Dixon, Joe Lyons, Tom Gilmore, Owen Farnworth, Matty Fozard, Jacob Jones, Andrew Dixon, Shane Grady, Jordan Johnstone.
Interchanges: Aaron Brown, Olly Davies, Sam Wilde, Adam Lawton (18th man: Will Tilleke).
Tries: Ince 2, Lyons, Dixon 2, Owens 2
Goals: Edge, Gilmore 4
Swinton Lions: Dan Abram, Mike Butt, Ben Davies, Jake Spedding, Jayden Hatton, Josh Eaves, Jordy Gibson, Jordan Case, Amir Bourouh, Sam Royle, Andrew Badrock, Rhodri Lloyd, Nick Gregson.
Interchanges: Louis Brogan, Gavin Bennion, Dan Norman, Joey Romeo.
Tries: Royle
Goals: Abram
Man of the Match
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