Widnes Vikings were narrowly defeated 36-42 at the DCBL Stadium, locking horns with top of the table London Broncos.
After a tough beginning for both teams, it was the Vikings who took the lead ten minutes in.
A penalty allowed Allan Coleman’s side to get up the field and challenge London’s defence. After Ryan Ince’s attempt was halted on the line, Jordan Johnstone’s quick pass met the hands of Danny Langtree who dived over.
It didn’t take long for the Broncos to level proceedings when just three minutes later, Gairo Voro diverted attention away from Elliot Wallis before playing him the ball. He ran in unchallenged and set it down over the line.
Voro was again at the heart of the action for the league leaders when he played the ball into Alex Max for their second try of the afternoon.
The Vikings weren’t backing down. With 24 minutes on the clock, Adam Lawton received a pass from Johnstone down the left edge. After two dummys, Lawton successfully deceived any of the visitors in his way, giving him a clear path to score.
The game was proving to be an arm wrestle, and London made sure Widnes couldn’t establish a foothold in the game when Max once again forced his way in behind to reestablish their advantage.
Thirty-two minutes in, the away side crafted a nice move with quick passing between Connor O’Beirne, Wallis and Voro. The latter was the difference maker, as when he got hold of the ball, he was on hand to throw himself into the corner, adding to the lead.
Still, there was action to come before the end of the first half.
Matty Fozard found Danny Richardson who still had plenty of bodies in front of him. However, after a dummy and a great effort to force himself through, the stand-off bridged the scoreline gap just before the break.
Four minutes into the second half, Voro was once again causing problems as he broke through. He played the ball into Luke Smith, who had no issues setting the ball down.
The Broncos were finding their stride and added to the scoreline with their next surge forward. Wallis was picked out down the left edge and ran through to get his second of the game.
An hour in, London added another through Neil Tchmamabe.
Tchmamabe then got his second of the afternoon eight minutes later when he dived beyond Nathan Connell’s attempted tackle, and subsequently, the try line.
A second half dominated by the Broncos soon saw the Vikings make their mark.
With 72 minutes on the clock, Langtree found a rare gap in the visitor’s line. He burst through it, only stopping to pass the ball into Tom Gilmore, who ran in behind the sticks to score.
Widnes were at it again moments later, this time Fozard and Lawton linking up. The former found Lawton who powered his way in behind before crashing down to claim his second try of the match.
With two minutes to go, after clever passing down the line, Connell found Mike Butt on the left, who snuck in at the corner to make the closing stages of the encounter uncomfortable for the league leaders.
Match highlights
Full match replay (subscribers only)
Teams and scorers
Widnes Vikings: Connell, Butt, Edge, Roberts, Ince, Richardson, Gilmore, Murray, Johnstone, Chapelhow, Langtree, Wilde, Gregson. Interchanges: Lawton, Wilde, Fozard, Hall.
Tries: Langtree, Lawton, Richardson, Gilmore, Butt
Goals: Richardson (5)
London Broncos: Meadows, Tchmamabe, Max, Mathias, Wallis, Voro, Hawkins, Gillard-Campbell, Glare, Kapinas, Croft, Smith, Havili. Interchanges: O’Beirne, Bitungane, Stock, Bienek.
Tries: Wallis (2), Max (2), Voro, Smith, Tchmamabe (2)
Goals: Voro (5)
Match reaction
Chose your Player of The Match
Supporters have until midday on Wednesday to select their Player of The Match
