Shane Grady was missing after failing the Head Injury Assessment after taking a knock in the win at Halifax last week. Max Roberts came into the starting 13 after being on the bench at Halifax and Adam Lawton came into the 17 after himself being missing at Fax because of concussion protocols.

In another crucial match in the fight for the top 6, Vikings came up against one of the championships best performing and most resilient teams in Batley Bulldogs knowing that a win would take them above their opponents and into the last of the Play Off positions with just 3 matches of the regular season left.

The Bulldogs have performed magnificently over recent seasons, reaching both a semi final in the Play Offs in 2021 then the Grand Final in 2022 and in 2023 they reached the final of the 1895 cup, losing to Halifax.

A real tough ask but Vikings have newfound confidence and belief and that was evident, right from the start, exemplified by strong defence and creative attack.

In what turned out to be a pulsating game for the full 80 minutes, both teams went at each other, hell for leather in hot conditions and nobody could have been disappointed with what was served up.

Vikings had slightly the better of the opening exchanges without really creating any clear-cut opportunities but went ahead on 15 minutes when Danny Craven drew the defence inside the Batley ten and put Callum Field over for the first points, which Kieran Dixon converted from just to the right of the posts.6-0.

The rest of the half was see saw with both teams going set for set and it looked like Vikings were going to keep a clean sheet, especially when a magnificent effort from full back, Jack Owens, saw him prevent a certain try out on the far touchline. With the line at his mercy Dale Morton was forced to try and pass inside after Owen’s challenge and the force of the challenge made him pass forward and Vikings breathed again.

Not to be denied though, the Bulldogs came back again, and on 38 minutes got their first points of the afternoon when Aiden McGowan went over out wide. Batley were unable to convert.

Half time score Widnes 6-4 Batley. Game on!

The second half carried on where the first had finished and for long periods of the game the teams were like 2 heavyweight boxers, slugging it out in a ring. Batley, on the back of some penalties, were enjoying spells of possession and were constantly peppering the Vikings defence with kicks out wide. The defence, however, was resolute, and with the crowd recognising the almighty effort the team was making responded with fantastic vocal support to encourage the team.

As the match entered it’s final stages and still with the final outcome in the balance, Joe Edge made a break up the middle, gaining vital metres which enabled the team to launch an attack on the Bulldogs line.

The ball was moved to the left, then in a lovely move, made in the old Vikings Academy, Jack Owens sped onto a lovely, disguised pass back on the inside from Danny Craven and went over to great scenes of celebration. Kieran Dixon again landed a difficult conversion from a wide angle, and it was 12-4 Vikings with 5 minutes to play!

The try had knocked the stuffing out of Batley and Vikings played out the final few minutes to gain a hard fought but well deserved victory.

London Broncos (a) Sunday 10 September kick off 3pm.

WIDNES : Owens, Ince, Fleming, Edge, Dixon, Craven, Gilmore, Farnworth, Fozard, Field, Roberts, Wilde, Brown

INTERCHANGES: Forber, Lawton, Davies, Worthington.

TRIES ; Field, Owens

GOALS; Dixon 2

BATLEY : McGowan, Morton, Hodson, Buchannan, Kear, Meadows, Woods, Gledhill, White, Brown, Manning, Walshaw, Reilly.

INTERCHANGES; Leak, Flynn, Ward, Kibula.

TRIES; McGowan

GOALS; None

REFEREE; Mr Scott Mikalauskas