Recap

Widnes Vikings couldn’t back up their semi-final heroics on Friday evening, as they fell to a 30-10 defeat at the hands of Sheffield Eagles

Kieron Purtill reshuffled his team for the trip to the Olympic Legacy Park, with Lloyd Roby, Ellis Robson and Josh Ganson coming in

The home side opened the scoring on four minutes, as Anthony Thackeray intercepted Jack Owens’ pass to race toward the try line, and despite Joe Lyons chasing him down Ben Blackmore was in support to score under the sticks.

Sheffield extended their lead on 20 minutes, as a penalty advanced them into the Vikings half where they forced a goal-line drop-out, and from the resulting set Bradley Knowles stepped past a defender to score from close range.

It took half an hour for Widnes to break their deadlock, as MacGraff Leuluai’s show and go sparked an attack out of nothing and advanced the visitors into the Eagles’ half. On the next play the ball was shipped wide, where Roby drew Ryan Millar to put Ryan Ince over out wide

A great hit on Josh Guzdek from Ince forced a knock on in a dangerous position, and despite gaining a repeat set the Vikings couldn’t’t take advantage as they looked to cut the deficit.

With the last play of the half, Millar skipped across the line and broke down the left edge, before Robson come up with a great cover tackle to ground him 30 metres out.

The hooter sounder, and Widnes headed to the sheds trailing by eight points.

Five minutes into the second half, Sheffield made Jordan Johnstone pay for a knock on at the play the ball, as Menzie Yere picked up to race to half way. Thackeray picked up from dummy half as spotted a gap to race away and score.

Widnes replied within four minutes, as Danny Craven’s grubbed was knocked into the in-goal by Joel Farrell where Robson pounced for his first try for the club.

Thackeray had his second on 56 minutes, as Oliver Davies offloaded at the line to send Aaron Brown into space, with the Eagles halfback having enough pace to finish the break in support.

Another Thackeray break advanced Sheffield into a dangerous position just after the hour mark, and one the last tackle Pat Walker’s grubbed was pounces on by Yere.

Widnes failed to create any chances of merit for the remainder of the game, as they slumped to a disappointing defeat.