Adam Lawton’s second half hat-trick helped Widnes Vikings to a 42-20 win away at Oldham.
John Kear’s side were made to work hard for the victory by the Roughyeds, who got a roll on after conceding the first try of the game early on and took a 14-12 lead in to half-time.
Former Vikings favourite Patrick Ah Van helped himself to two tries on his first outing in Oldham colours.
Team news
Tom Gilmore made his first appearance in a Widnes shirt since re-joining from last season’s Championship Grand Finalists Batley.
Josh Johnson started at prop and Kieran Dixon on the wing, with Jack Owens reverting back to full-back and last week’s Man of the Match Matt Fleming moving to centre.
Jordan Johnstone started at hooker and Matty Fozard provided an interchange option off the bench.
Story of the game
Widnes got off to the perfect start when pressure on the kick chase at the end of their first possession forced an error. It was Kieran Dixon’s tackle that forced the ball loose and from that field position, the ball was shifted right with Gilmore and Owens linking up to put Ollie Brookes in at the corner.
Unfortunately, that was the only real action Brookes saw of the game as he was forced off injured.
On the artificial surface at the Vestacare Stadium, Oldham steadily grew in confidence and started to build territory.
Ah Van crossed for his first try on 12 minutes, a trademark burst over from close range on the short side off Matty Wilkinson’s dummy half pass.
He got his second midway through the first half, Oldham making the most of repeat sets following an error, putting Ah Van, who scored 95 tries in 123 appearances for Widnes, over on the left to put Oldham 10-6 in front.
Kyle Amor led from the front for Widnes and two bursts almost set up a try, only for Gilmore to be held up over the line. The second try did eventually come on 31 minutes, when Owens dummied through on the left hand side.
But Oldham took a lead in to half time when they took advantage of a last tackle penalty conceded 10 metres out, shifting the ball right for a walk in for Joe Hartley and they lead 14-12.
The second half had to be better for Widnes and it was. Lawton proved more than a handful for Oldham and after they thought they’d stopped him in the tackle, Lawton carried on and took the ball over the line.
He crashed over off a short pass minutes later and then added a hat-trick on 65 minutes when he ran over Calvin Wellington from 10 metres.
A Wilkinson try briefly stopped Widnes in their tracks, after Ant Walker had been forced in to touch from the kick-off, but two further tries would follow.
Fozard scampered over from dummy half over the posts and Olly Davies rounded off the scoring with five minutes to play, with Widnes going seven from seven with the boot.
Next game
Friday 27 January – St Helens (A) – 8pm kick-off
Teams and scorers
Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Oliver Brookes, Matt Fleming, Max Roberts, Kieran Dixon, Joe Lyons, Tom Gilmore, Josh Johnson, Jordan Johnstone, Kyle Amor, Sam Wilde, Oliver Davies, Callum Field.
Interchanges: Aaron Brown, Joe Edge, Matty Fozard, Lewis Hatton, Brad Holroyd, Adam Lawton, Ryan Millar, Will Tilleke, Ant Walker.
Tries: Oliver Brookes, Jack Owens, Adam Lawton 3, Matty Fozard, Oliver Davies.
Goals: Kieran Dixon 2, Tom Gilmore 5.
Oldham: Gregg McNally, Joe Hartley, Calvin Wellington, Morgan, Patrick Ah Van, Martin Ridyard, Sheridan, Luke Nelmes, Matty Wilkinson, Newton, Ferry, Baker, Meadows.
Interchanges: Sean Slater, Jack Blagborough, Jordan Paga, Samuel Bardsley, Billy Yarrow, Ellis Keppel, Jenson Hamilton, Joe Taira
Tries: Patrick Ah Van 2, Joe Hartley, Matty Wilkinson.
Goals: Martin Ridyard 2
