Widnes Vikings started the 2020 Betfred Championship campaign with a victory, seeing off a spirited Oldham outfit 36-6 at Bower Fold.
Tim Sheens handed debuts to Jake Spedding, Deon Cross, Pat Moran, Kenny Baker and Connor Dwyer in his first competitive fixture in charge of the club.
Jack Johnson, Matty Smith, Logan Tomkins and Shane Grady also made their second debuts for Widnes, with Johnson and Grady finding their way onto the scoresheet.
The Vikings opened the scoring after nine minutes, with Cross initially making good yards before Smith’s pass out the back to Danny Craven had the Oldham defence back tracking. Craven used Sam Wilde as a dummy runner before breaking the line, with Johnson racing over in support.
Oldham responded well, forcing a goal-line drop-out to put the Vikings under pressure, with Craven attempting a short drop-out however the ball failed to travel 10 metres.
From the resulting set Ted Chapelhow forced a knock on and pounced on the ball, and a flop onto the Widnes prop caused tempers to flare. As a result, the visitors were awarded a penalty and Gareth Owen was sin binned.
With a man advantage, the Vikings marched up the other end of the field and after putting the ball through hands the captain Jack Owens strolled over in space for the second try of the game.
Oldham thought they had responded through Danny Langtree soon after, however he grounded the ball after it had gone dead when chasing down a grubber.
From the next set, Spedding did well to start a break down the left edge before two tackles later he was held up over the line on the opposite edge.
Danny Bridge then knocked on trying to claim an intercept, which led to Spedding eventually finding his way over after stepping past a tackle and reaching out for the line. Owens added the extras to make it a 16-point lead.
Oldham had a golden opportunity to break their deadlock when Dec Kay made a break, only for great retreating defence from Roby and Spedding to hold the winger up over the line.
The Vikings were unable to build on their lead for the remainder of the half, heading for the sheds with a 16-0 lead.
Half-time: Oldham RLFC 0-16 Widnes Vikings
From the restart, great defence from Spedding forced Harry Aaronson into touch, and from the resulting set Grady showed too much strength to force his way over on his second debut for the club.
Five minutes later the Vikings lead was extended further after Craven had forced a goal-line drop-out, and from the repeat set Owens came up with a great flick pass to Spedding who sent Cross over at the flag.
The home side were finally on the scoresheet on 52 minutes, as a penalty advanced them deep into Vikings territory where Jimmy Beckett forced his way over from close range.
On the hour mark Widnes turned a repeat set into points, as Smith, Craven and Joe Lyons combined to send Johnson over for his second of the afternoon.
Widnes were in control for the remainder of the contest, and added the final points of the game five minutes from time as Craven sent Sam Wilde over with a flat pass at the line to round off a dominant display.
Full-time: Oldham RLFC 6-36 Widnes Vikings
Oldham RLFC: Dan Abram, Declan Kay, James Worthington, Kyran Johnson, Harry Aaronson, Lewis Charnock, David Hewitt, Phil Joy, Gareth Owen, Jack Spencer, Danny Bridge, Danny Langtree, Liam Bent.
Interchanges: Matty Wilkinson, Matthew Fletcher, Daniel Igbinedion, Jimmy Beckett.
Tries: Beckett (52) Goals: Abram 1/1
Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Jack Johnson, Lloyd Roby, Jake Spedding, Deon Cross, Matty Smith, Danny Craven, Ted Chapelhow, Logan Tomkins, Pat Moran, Sam Wilde, Kenny Baker, Connor Dwyer.
Interchanges: Joe Lyons, Joe Edge, Shane Grady, Owen Farnworth.
Tries: Johnson (9, 60), Owens (15), Spedding (23), Grady (41), Cross (46), Wilde (75) Goals: Owens 4/7
