The Vikings suffered defeat on a windy Monday night in Newcastle, with Thunder running out winners by twelve points to six.
Widnes made four changes to their matchday 17 from last time out at York, as new loan recruits Danny Addy and Jack Wells came in as well as Jake Spedding and Lloyd Roby in the places of the injured Aaron Brown and Tyler Dupree, with Liam Bent and Joe Edge also missing out.
It was a tight opening to the game, Newcastle seeing the better off the opening exchanges with Widnes having to absorb the majority of the early pressure.
The hosts got the scoring underway on 19 minutes when Sam Halsall found space out wide after a knock-on from the Vikings put them under pressure, and the centre got in despite a last-ditch tackle attempt from Ryan Ince.
Widnes stood firm for the remainder of the first half under sustained Thunder pressure, with the scores at 4-0 going into half time.
Gideon Boafo got in not long after the break, finding a gap on the right wing to double Newcastle’s lead before Thunder converted.
Jake Spedding limped off after a pause in play shortly before the hour mark, with a slight reshuffle forced upon the Vikings.
Widnes pulled one back with ten minutes to go, Adam Lawton with a strong carry to get across. Ste Tyrer converted to pull the Vikings back within a score.
However, the hosts got a penalty 20 out and took the two points with Jake Shorrocks putting it through the posts to extend Thunder’s lead to six and round off the scores.
Newcastle Thunder: Craig Mullen, Gideon Boafo, Isaac Nokes, Sam Halsall, Abbas Miski, Jake Shorrocks, Jesse Dee, Ed Chapelhow, Josh Eaves, Mitch. Clark, Brad Gallagher, Matthew Nicholson, Sam Hallas.
Interchanges: Connor Bailey, Brad O’Neill, Lewis Peachey, Nathan Wilde.
Tries: Sam Halsall.
Goals: Jake Shorrocks (1/2).
Penalty goals: Jake Shorrocks.
Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Ryan Ince, Ste Tyrer, Jake Spedding, Ryan Ince, Joe Lyons, Matty Smith, Owen Farnworth, Matty Fozard, Kenny Baker, Sam Wilde, Olly Davies, Danny Addy.
Interchanges: Lloyd Roby, Adam Lawton, Eribe Doro, Jack Wells.
Tries: Adam Lawton.
Goals: Ste Tyrer (1/1).
