The Vikings suffered a heavy defeat this afternoon, going down 38-16 to Featherstone Rovers at the DCBL Stadium.
Allan Coleman’s side were unable to complete the comeback from an early 16-point deficit, eventually slipping to their fourth defeat of the Championship season.
Featherstone made a fast start, opening the scoring through Connor Wynne after he finished off a break from Clay Webb.
The visitors then asserted their dominance with two quick-fire tries from Derrell Olpherts and Bailey O’Connor, racing into a 16-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.
Widnes gradually found their footing in the latter stages of the first half and pulled a try back through Matt Fleming, who supported a break from Danny Langtree to reduce the deficit to 10 points at the interval.
The Vikings started the second half brightly, with James Duffy, on dual-registration from Warrington, diving over to make it 16-10.
Max Roberts then powered over out wide following a sharp short ball from Jack Owens, levelling the scores.
Featherstone quickly regained control, King Vuniyayawa restored their lead, strolling in under the posts from close range, before Toby Boothroyd raced clear to touch down and give the visitors a two-score advantage with less than 10 minutes to play.
The Vikings nearly hit back through Duffy, but the young winger was bundled into touch at the corner.
Featherstone sealed the win with two late tries. Ryan Hampshire finished off a move from deep, and O’Connor grabbed his second of the afternoon by intercepting a Tom Gilmore pass to round off a 38-16 victory for the visitors.
The Vikings travel to Bartercard Odsal Stadium in a fortnight to take on the in-form Bradford Bulls. Tickets are available HERE.
TEAMS AND SCORERS
Widnes Vikings: Fleming, Duffy, Owens, Edge, Ince, Lyons, Gilmore, Murray, Fozard, Reilly, Langtree, Smith, Gregson
Interchanges: Johnstone, Bent, Kirk, Roberts, Bennion (18th)
Tries: Fleming, Duffy, Roberts
Goals: Gilmore x2
Featherstone Rovers: Aekins, Olpherts, O’Connor, Hatton, Wynne, Reynolds, Hampshire, Beckett, Jubb, Vuniyayawa, Boothroyd, Webb, Addy
Interchanges: Jones, Hardcastle, Williams, Arnold, Turner (18th)
Tries: O’Connor x2, Wynne, Olpherts, Vuniyayawa, Boothroyd, Hampshire
Goals: Reynolds x5
ATTENDANCE: 2221
