Recap

Widnes Vikings were held to nil by Bradford Bull on Sunday afternoon, as they were beaten 62-0 at Odsal in Round 19 of the Betfred Championship season.

The Vikings rarely threatened their opponents’ line, as they were unable to cross the whitewash and shipped 11 tries in a disappointing display away from home.

Kieron Purtill made three changes to his line-up, as Jacob Dugdale, Joe Lyons and Owen Farnworth came into the 17 at Odsal.

Bradford were in the ascendency from the kick-off, as they set up camp on the Vikings try line following a seven tackle set and a goal-line drop-out.

A scrum 10 metres from the try line then resulted in the opening score of the afternoon, as Joe Keyes bounced off an attempted tackle to stroll in next to the sticks, before converting his own effort five minutes in.

The Bulls went back-to-back from the restart, as Jordan Lilley broke the line before finding Keyes in support, with Elliot Minchella finishing the move to open up a 12-point advantage.

Widnes finally made inroads into the Bradford half, however they failed to turn a repeat in a dangerous position into points, with their attack firing blanks.

A breakaway effort extended the hosts’ lead on 22 minutes, as Brad Walker attempted an early kick which was read by Keyes, as the halfback raced 80 metres to score.

It went from bad to worse three minutes later, as Jordan Lilley kicked a 40/20, and as Bradford attempted a quick restart Danny Craven was sin binned for intercepting the ball as he retreated. From the resulting set, a simple show of hands ended with Jy Hitchcox grabbing a walk-in try in the corner.

On the half hour mark, Jack Owens tried to usher a Lilley kick over the dead ball line, however the fullback was fooled by the bounce and Brandon Pickersgill pounced to score another Bulls try.

A miserable half for the Vikings culminated in Dan Norman coming up with a knock on deep inside his own half, which was punished by George Flanagan who burrowed over from dummy half, despite the attention of three defenders.

The last thing the Vikings needed to start the second half was an error from the restart, as Anthony Gelling spilled the kick-off and put his side under immediate pressure. The ruthless Bulls struck again, as Ross Oakes somehow managed to outmuscle two defenders to score in the corner.

Bradford had 40 points to their name after 55 minutes, when a penalty against Jordan Johnstone for dissent gave the home side a chance to attack. From the resulting set, a gap in the defence opened up for Keyes as he raced in for his hat-trick try.

Six minutes later the Bulls had their half-century, as a Walker knock on put the Vikings on the back foot again, leading to Flanagan picking up a carbon copy of his first try as he darted over from dummy half.

Minchella had his second soon after, as he intercepted Harrison Hansen’s pass to race in from 40 metres, with Keyes once again adding the extras.

The Bradford winger completed his hat-trick four minutes later, as Keyes charged down a kick from Owens before finding Connor Farrell in support, with Minchella beating the retreating defence to finish the move.

Dugdale, who was making his second appearance for the First team, managed to produce a break through the middle with a run from dummy half and give Widnes their first real opportunity of the second half. Lloyd Roby went close in the corner, however the winger spilled possession as he tried to reach out for the line.

Keanan Brand then found a hole in the defence to produce a break of his own, however his attempt to kick ahead and regather didn’t work out, as the bounce went against him.

That proved to be the last act of any significance, as the Vikings fell to a disappointing loss at Odsal.