Widnes Vikings fell to an agonising defeat on Sunday, as a late Tendall Gwaze try snatched the two points for London Broncos.
The home side led for the majority of the contest and looked set to make it three league victories in a row, but the Broncos edged the clash 24-22 with a ball steal from Cory Aston proving pivotal.
It took four minutes for the Vikings to open the scoring, as great defensive work forced London into touch, and from the resulting set Danny Craven dummied his way over from close range.
Widnes were reduced to 12 men on 11 minutes when Craven was sin binned after chasing down Josh Hodson and holding on for too long in the tackle. From the resulting set the Broncos put the ball through hands with Abbas Miski crossing out wide to level the scoring.
The home side saw out the remainder of the sin binning with some great goal-line defence to keep the Broncos at bay, before a great end to the half had the hosts back in front.
Ste Tyrer edged Widnes ahead with a penalty goal after half an hour, as a dangerous tackle gave him the opportunity to add two points.
Then came a huge moment as Adam Lawton came up with a great play after plucking Cory Aston’s kick out the air, as he freed an arm and offloaded to Deon Cross who raced the length of the field to score.
Widnes should have extended their lead on the stroke of half-time as Jack Owens broke through the line but couldn’t send the supporting Joe Edge over out wide.
Instead, the Vikings led by eight as they headed in for the break after an impressive first 40 after being under pressure for large parts when a man down.
London hit back within four minutes of the restart, as back-to-back sets ended with Rhys Curran forcing his way over from close range, with Chris Hankinson’s conversion making it a two-point game.
With the game in the balance, Lawton scored a big try as he continued his great try scoring form by proving too strong from close range as he hit a short ball at the line from Craven. The lead stood at six points as Tyrer’s conversion attempt struck the post.
On 67 minutes the scores were level, as a goal-line drop-out was given against Cross despite his complaints that London had knocked the ball dead, and from the resulting set Roman Navarette strolled through a gaping hole in the defence.
It took just three minutes for the Vikings to hit the front again though, as Joe Edge marked his return to the side with a try after collecting a short ball from Lyons. Tyrer dragged the conversion attempt wide to leave the lead at four points this time.
London snatched the two points at the death, as a ball steal from Aston turned defence into attack before Jarrod Sammut broke the line and sent Tendall Gwaze over in support.
The conversion from Chris Hankinson sealed the two points, with the Vikings falling to an agonising defeat.
Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Jayden Hatton, Ste Tyrer, Joe Edge, Deon Cross, Danny Craven, Joe Lyons, Owen Farnworth, Lewis Else, Kenny Baker, Shane Grady, Adam Lawton, Matty Smith.
Interchanges: Paul Clough, Matt Cook, Josh Wilde, Will Tilleke.
Tries: Craven, Cross, Lawton, Edge Goals: Tyrer 3/5
London Broncos: James Meadows, Josh Hodson, Will Lovell, Chris Hankinson, Abbas Miski, Cory Aston, Matty Fozard, Pat Moran, Sam Davis, Tendai Gwaze, Rhys Curran, Jacob Jones, Greg Richards.
Interchanges: Roman Navarrete, Daniel Hindmarsh, Gideon Boafo, Jarrod Sammut.
Tries: Miski, Curran, Navarette, Gwaze Goals: Hankinson 4/4
