Match Report: Whitehaven 12-26 Widnes Vikings

Widnes Vikings took the points at Whitehaven in Round 23 of the Betfred Championship with a strong performance on the road.

The Vikings stormed into an early lead when Joe Edge patted Joe Lyons’ last-tackle kick into the hands of Matt Fleming, who was able to run through for the first try of the game just three minutes into the contest.

Sam Wilde helped double Widnes’ lead on 15 minutes, running through on the left edge to stretch the lead to twelve.

The hosts pulled one back on the half-hour mark, when Will Evans found space to push through on the right side to pull Whitehaven back within a score at the break.

Just a couple of minutes into the second period, Widnes took the two from a penalty, Ste Tyrer kicking through to extend the lead to a safer margin of eight points.

Whitehaven were back within those two points just short of the hour mark, winger Curtis Teare running through the middle to get the home side firmly back in the game.

However, Liam Bent was over for his first Widnes try just four minutes later to restore the Vikings’ eight-point lead.

Widnes extended that lead further eight minutes from time, Matty Fozard with the scoot to score and take the Vikings to 26 points for the day.

Whitehaven: Josh Martin, Andrew Bulman, Will Evans, Marcus Walker, Curtis Teare, Karl Dixon, Nikau Williams, Guy Graham, Curtis Davies, Tom Walker, Ryan King, Connor Holliday, Dion Aiye.

Interchanges: Jake Bradley, Liam McAvoy, Perry Singleton, Tom Wilkinson.

Tries: Will Evans, Curtis Teare.

Goals: Nikau Williams (1/1), Josh Martin (1/1).

Widnes Vikings: Matt Fleming, Ryan Ince, Jake Spedding, Ste Tyrer, Joe Edge, Joe Lyons, Matty Smith, Adam Lawton, Matty Fozard, Owen Farnworth, Sam Wilde, Olly Davies, Liam Bent.

Interchanges: Danny Craven, Josh Johnson, Eribe Doro, Callum Field.

Tries: Matt Fleming, Sam Wilde, Liam Bent, Matty Fozard.

Goals: Ste Tyrer (4/4).

Penalty goal: Ste Tyrer.