The Vikings fell to defeat in Allan Coleman’s first game in charge, going down 18-6 to Swinton Lions in the 1895 Cup.
Kieran Dixon was the only try scorer for the Vikings in a disappointing result that saw Swinton claim top spot in Group 6.
The home side took the lead after 10 minutes, with Rhys Williams collecting a Declan Patton kick to score in the corner.
The Vikings then piled the pressure on the Swinton line but the home side’s defence held firm.
A yellow card for George Roby before half-time presented an opportunity for the Vikings which they took as Kieran Dixon took a looping pass from Tom Gilmore to make the breakthrough.
Missed conversions from both sides made it 4-4 at the break.
Kieran Dixon then kicked a penalty in the early stages of the second half to give us our first lead of the match.
It looked like the Vikings were going to extend their lead as Dixon broke through, but his pass inside to Gilmore was agonisingly knocked down by a Swinton hand.
Swinton then took the lead once again as Jake Spedding collected a stray pass to feed Matty Chrimes to score in the corner, which took the score to 10-6 in the home side’s favour.
A Declan Patton penalty goal made it a 6-point game before Jordan Gibson collected a kick near the Vikings line to score and seal the win.
The Vikings turn their attention to more cup action this Sunday, as we host Doncaster RLFC in the third round of the Challenge Cup.
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COACHES COMMENTS
Head coach, Allan Coleman said: “I just thought they wanted it a lot more than us. I’ve questioned the players and I want us to realise that we’ve got to have that passion and desire to play for the jersey.
“Our overall completion was 69% and you’re not going to win a game of rugby, especially a cup game, like that.
“We were overplaying, forcing things, and not getting to the points we need to. Then off the back of that, you’re giving the opposition the ball, and they’re a good opposition, I’ve said all week how good they can be.
“We’ve got to get fixed on that pretty smart about these oppositions because they’re all good teams.”
TEAMS AND SCORERS
Widnes Vikings: Roby, Butt, Fleming, Edge, Dixon, Lyons, Gilmore, Field, Johnstone, Walker, Lloyd, Wilde, Gregson
Interchanges: Fozard, Kirk, Roberts, Whitehead, Bent (18th)
Tries: Dixon
Goals: Dixon
Swinton Lions: Abram, Chrimes, Spedding, Hatton, Williams, Patton, Gibson, Bennion, Eaves, Houghton, Rodden, Cox, Hall
Interchanges: Cooper, Roby, Badrock, Case, Fletcher (18th)
Tries: Williams, Chrimes, Gibson
Goals: Patton 3
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