Widnes Vikings recorded a convincing victory at the DCBL Stadium as they ran out 44-6 winners over Whitehaven RLFC.
Simon Finnigan made three changes to the side that was defeated by York City Knights last week, as Paul Clough, Connor Dwyer & Owen Farnworth came into the 17 to replace Joe Edge, Dan Hill and Ellis Robson.
It was a tense and tight affair inside the opening 20 minutes, with both sides testing the other out looking to gain the ascendency. It was the Vikings who broke the dead lock as Brad O’Neill darted out from dummy half and muscled over from close range.
This try gave Simon Finnigan’s side the platform to take control of the game, and following a Ste Tyrer penalty to stretch the lead to eight, the hosts extended their lead further as Adam Lawton broke the defensive line to score from 20 metres out.
With Tyrer on point with the boot once more, the Vikings took a 14-0 lead into the break.
Widnes continued in the second half in the same manner in which they finished the first, and Danny Craven further asserted the Vikings’ lead as he stretched out to touch down after dummying at the line to create space.
The stand off made it back-to-back tries with an outstanding individual effort from inside his own half. Craven beat two Whitehaven defenders before dummying the full back to go over untouched. With Tyrer keeping up his 100% record with boot, the Vikings led by 26.
The away side refused to give in, and posted their only points of the afternoon on the back of a penalty to put them into position. Jake Bradley charged onto a flat ball at the line, and was able to reach out and score.
This did nothing to deter the Vikings, and they continued in control of the game, and restored their 26-point advantage as Will Tilleke charged onto a pass and wasn’t to be stopped to crown a superb individual performance.
Finningan’s side continued to post points, and the next came from a set play involving Craven, Grady and Owens, with the latter hitting an inside ball from Craven to go over.
Th Vikings finished strongly, and added further points inside the final minute as Adam Lawton hit a short ball from Joe Lyons to grab his second of the afternoon.
It was a confidence boosting for the Vikings in front of their home supporters for the first time this season, and head to Oldham next week looking to make it back-to-back victories.
Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Deon Cross, Jake Spedding, Ste Tyrer, Jayden Hatton, Danny Craven, Joe Lyons, Matt Cook, Brad O’Neill, Kenny Baker, Shane Grady, Adam Lawton, Matty Smith.
Interchanges: Paul Clough, Connor Dwyer, Owen Farnworth, Will Tilleke
Tries: O’Neill, Lawton (2), Craven (2), Tilleke, Owens Goals: Tyrer 8/8
Whitehaven RLFC: Gregg McNally, Lachlan Walmsley, Christopher Taylor, Jason Mossop, Jesse Joe Parker, Karl Dixon, Nikau Williams, Thomas Walker, Aiden Roden, Andrew Dawson, Ellis Gilad, Liam Cooper, Thomas Wilkinson.
Interchanges: Jake Bradley, Ronan Michael, James Newton, Oscar Thomas
Tries: Bradley Goals: Walmsley 1/1
