Widnes Vikings scored 36 unanswered points in the second half to help them to a 52-8 win over Salford in Round 21 of the Betfred Championship.
After consecutive sets on the Salford line, Dan Murray bulldozed over from close range in the ninth minute to open the scoring.
Salford hit back just over five minutes later, as a grubber kick from Toby Hughes allowed Cole Oakley to go over close to the sticks.
The Vikings hit back straight away. A set restart allowed the ball to be moved over to the left edge, where Mike Butt was waiting on the overlap to score.
The visitors then came again, and like with Butt’s try, they took advantage of the extra man out wide to send Jack Holmes in at the corner.
Widnes were able to extend their lead before half-time through Frank Sergent, who managed to power through two Salford defenders on the wing to get the ball down on his home debut.
Allan Coleman’s side got the second half off to the best start, capitalising on a plethora of penalties which allowed Matty Fozard to crash over under the posts.
The winning margin was extended to 20 just before 60 minutes on the clock. In a bizarre turn of events, Tom Gilmore’s grubber kick hit the padding on the posts, which allowed Jack Billington to collect the ball and score.
Sergent then got his second not long after as the visitors failed to deal with a high kick, which allowed the winger to wriggle his way over to score.
Another high boot was dealt with poorly in the in-goal area minutes later as Kieran Taylor was rewarded with his first try of the game.
The Vikings then scored again with 10 minutes to play, as Nathan Connell broke through on halfway and went on to convert a sublime solo effort.
Connell was able to replicate his exploits in the next set, this time setting up Jack Owens who rounded off the evening’s scoring, and took the Vikings up to a half-century of points.
Match highlights
Teams and scorers
Widnes Vikings: Connell, Butt, Taylor, Owens, Sergent, Richardson, Gilmore, Murray, Johnstone, Chapelhow, Badrock, Sam Wilde, Nathan Wilde. Interchanges: Fozard, Langtree, Billington, Houghton.
Tries: Murray, Butt, Sergent (2), Fozard, Billington, Taylor, Connell, Owens
Goals: Richardson (8)
Salford RLFC: Dixon, Holmes, Garmston, Hartley, Gilford, Hughes, Green, Bibby, Dwyer, Lynch, Stanton, Oakley, Glover. Interchanges: Baldwin, Appleby, Ayanlaja-Lowo, Yates.
Tries: Oakley, Holmes
Goals:
Match reaction
Choose your Player of the Match
Supporters have until midday on Tuesday to vote for their Vikings Player of the Match.
