Widnes Vikings finished the 2022 season with a 23-10 win away at Bradford Bulls.
Matty Smith’s drop goal rounded off the victory late on, though he was cruelly denied a first try of the season right at the end as he was held up over the line.
It was a positive way to the end the season for John Kear against his former side and they controlled the second half.
There was only 12 points scored in the first half as the Vikings went in 8-4 at the break.
Joe Edge scored all of the points, including the game’s first try after eight minutes.
Widnes shifted the ball right and Edge got on the outside of Kieran Edge to touch down, before curling in a fine touchline conversion.
Edge added a penalty on 25 minutes in a period where Widnes were down to 12 men after Ollie Brookes was sinbinned for tackling David Foggin-Johnston in the air off a kick.
The Vikings didn’t concede even with a man less, though barely moments after Brookes returned, Bradford found their way over – Jacob Hookem’s short kick to the corner touched down by former St Helens winger Matty Dawson-Jones.
The half time lead was increased to a 10 point advantage after five second half minutes when Olly Davies burst on to a pass on the left and found his way to the line, Edge again converting brilliantly from the touchline.
But Widnes again had to do 10 minutes with a man less after Adam Lawton was sinbinned for dissent as he got up to play the ball following a tackle.
Again the Vikings stood firm with 12 men and moments after Lawton returned, they scored their third try of the afternoon.
Matty Fleming took the ball close and from the play the ball, Matty Fozard darted over.
Fozard created the next try on 67 minutes, fizzing a short ball to the right for Ollie Brookes to crash on to for his first try of the season.
Neither of those two tries were converted and off the back of a penalty, Bradford did get on the board – Steve Crossley marking his final game before retirement by crashing over close to the line.
Although there were no real signs of a comeback, Widnes made sure of the victory through a Smith drop goal off the post on 76 minutes.
Bradford Bulls: Elliot Kear, Matty Dawson-Jones, Joe Burton, Kieran Gill, David Foggin-Johnston, Jacob Hookem, David Gibbons, Ebon Scurr, Thomas Doyle, Steve Crossley, Brad England, Aaron Murphy, Sam Hallas.
Interchnages: AJ Wallace, Marcus Green, Jordan Baldwinson, Micky Hoyle.
Tries: Matty Dawson-Jones, Steve Crossley. Conversions: Elliot Kear 1/2
Widnes Vikings: Matty Fleming, Ollie Brookes, Joe Edge, Luis Roberts, Brad Holroyd, Danny Craven, Matty Smith, Josh Johnson, Matty Fozard, Owen Farnworth, Shane Grady, Olly Davies, Callum Field.
Interchanges: Joe Lyons, Liam Bent, Eribe Doro, Adam Lawton.
Tries: Joe Edge, Olly Davies, Matty Fozard, Ollie Brookes. Goals: Joe Edge 3/4, Matty Smith 0/1
