Report: Halifax Panthers 26-28 Widnes Vikings

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Vikings got back to winning ways with a hard-fought win over close rivals Halifax Panthers on Sunday with a 28-26 win over at the Shay to keep Play Off hopes alive.

TEAM NEWS

Huw Worthington came in on the bench to make his debut after signing on loan on transfer deadline day. Adam Lawton missed out due to concussion protocols, Danny Craven returned after a long absence and Ryan Ince was back in on the wing for the injured Ollie Brookes.

STORY OF THE GAME

In a crucial game for both teams in the battle for Play Off positions, it was Vikings who started better, which was just what was needed. Enthusiastic in defence and looking bright on attack it only took 4 minutes for the first try when Ince on the right wing, somehow managed to force his way past several defenders wide out to get the touchdown in the corner with Dixon unable to get the conversion.

Vikings doubled their lead on 11 minutes when the ball was moved at speed to the right and Ince went in for his second untouched. Again, Dixon was unable to kick the conversion. 8-0 to the Vikings.

The game was in Vikings grasp but, unable to add to their 8 points Halifax got back into the game on 23 minutes when Ben Crooks went over with Jouffret adding the conversion, 8-6 to Vikings.

Widnes, stung into action by that try ,extended their lead again when Ince completed his hat trick in the 27^th minute with a carbon copy of his second. This time Dixon landed the kick from out wide to take the score to 14-6.

However, not to be outdone, the Panthers came back again, and Adam Tangata went over with another Jouffret kick making the score 14-12 to the Vikings. The first half drama wasn’t done though and, when Vikings were pulled up for offside in the centre of the field, Jouffret took his chance to level the scores just before half time. 14-14.

With everything to play for, it was going to be a tense second half with both teams needing the win. In the 47^th minute Vikings were awarded a penalty just to the left of the posts and opted to take the 2 points on offer to go 16-14 ahead. It was nip and tuck for the first 15 minutes of the half before Danny Craven managed to touch down off a Tom Gilmore kick to the line with Dixon adding the goal. Almost straight from the kick off, Vikings worked the ball back down to the Panthers line and then off a lovely play which saw quick hands and a lovely inside pass, Jack Owens sped on to it and went over for another Vikings try with Dixon again converting to take the score to 28-14 in Vikings favour. At this point it looked like Widnes were going to go on and extend their lead, but the Panthers were having none of it. James Saltonstall being the beneficiary, touching down after a dropped kick and a mix up in the dead ball area, Jouffret again making it into 6 points with the conversion. 28-20.

It was nervy stuff now with both teams slugging it out to try and win the match. It got harder for the Vikings when Shane Grady and Aaron Brown collided when making a tackle with both having to leave the field.

Huw Worthington came back on for his second spell and Max Roberts joined him from the bench. Worthington proving to be a hard worker on both defence and attack.

The game was nip and tuck and there were no further scores until right on the hooter when, desperate to try and score, Fax chipped through then put a kick to the corner and Ben Crooks scored his second try as the hooter sounded. Louis Jouffret, who had kicked impeccably all afternoon added another conversion, with the help of a post but it was Vikings who got the victory, and deservedly so, in a hard-fought contest by 28-26.