The Vikings kicked off their 2025 Championship campaign win a gutsy 18-14 win against Toulouse Olympique in the South of France.
Allan Coleman’s side came from eight points down in the second half to pick up their first victory over Toulouse since 2019.
After a spell of early pressure, the Vikings found the breakthrough in the shape of Max Roberts, as he took a short pass from Declan Patton to race away and score.
The hosts responded well to conceding and following a period of pressure, hit back through Reuben Rennie as he crossed for the try to level things up.
Toulouse got a penalty in the dying stages of the first half following interference from the Vikings and Shorrocks added a penalty goal to put the hosts 8-6 up at the interval.
Another opportunity went begging for Toulouse, early in the second half as Stefani looked to have powered over from close range but the referee deemed him to have knocked on over the line.
The pressure continued from the hosts and they finally got their second try through Olly Ashall-Bott as he dotted down from a neat kick in behind to extend their lead to eight.
The Vikings’ fightback was kick-started by Matt Fleming as he crossed in the corner following some nice link-up play from Tom Gilmore and Rhodri Lloyd.
With just two points in it and 10 minutes remaining, Ryan Lannon stepped up as the Vikings hero, taking a short pass from Patton to race away under the sticks.
Toulouse thought they had won it late on as Benjamin Laguerre looked to have squeezed in at the corner but a fantastic defensive effort from Fleming and Joe Lyons saw him knock on in the act of scoring.
The hosts threw everything they had at the Vikings in the time that remained but the defence held firm to secure a memorable 18-14 victory over the French outfit.
We return to the DCBL Stadium this Sunday as we get set for our home opener against Sheffield Eagles. Tickets are available HERE.
TEAMS AND SCORERS
Toulouse Olympique: Ashall-Bott, Laguerre, Marcon, Rennie, Ulberg, Marion, Shorrocks, Roumanos, Gahan, Butler, Jussaume, Stefani, Cator
Interchanges: Rodriguez, Bretherton, Peyroux, Richards, Brochon (18th)
Tries: Rennie, Ashall-Bott
Goals: Shorrocks x3
Widnes Vikings: Lyons, Butt, Roberts, Fleming, Johnson, Patton, Gilmore, Murray, Fozard, Reilly, Lloyd, Langtree, Bent
Interchanges: Lannon, Kirk, Gregson, Bennion, Doolan (18th)
Tries: Roberts, Fleming, Lannon
Goals: Gilmore x3
