Widnes Vikings secured a huge two points in the Betfred Championship play-off race, defeating Barrow Raiders 24-8 at the DCBL Stadium.
Both sides felt their way into game by completing their respective sets, but it was the Vikings who broke the deadlock after just eight minutes, moving the ball from right to left into the hands of Nathan Connell, who applied a nice step past the Raiders defence and crossed to open the scoring.
Half an hour then passed without another score from either side, but, two minutes before half-time, Widnes moved the ball well out of the scrum to find Jack Owens, who burst through the Raiders line and raced over to give Allan Coleman’s side an eight-point advantage heading into the break.
The visitors made a quick response in the second half, and after a few consecutive sets on the Widnes line, Ryan King saw a gap open and darted from close range to reduce the arrears.
Shortly after the hour mark, Connell shot through the line and found a quick offload to Tom Gilmore, who raced under the sticks to give Allan Coleman’s side a two-score advantage once more.
Thirteen minutes from time, Owens was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle, and following a couple of penalties on the Widnes line, Curtis Teare crossed out on the right edge to give the Raiders a lifeline.
It didn’t take long after that for the next flashpoint to occur, a tip-tackle on Connell and a melee afterwards saw two Barrow players and Adam Lawton sent to the sin-bin.
From the resulting penalty, the Vikings consolidated their advantage. Gilmore took the ball 10 metres out and ran straight at a gap in the Raiders defence to double his tally for the evening.
Five minutes from the hooter, Widnes made sure of the two points when Max Roberts found an interception and ran the ball in 60 metres for a try which lifts the Vikings up to fourth in the table, above Barrow on points difference.
Match highlights
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Teams and scorers
Widnes Vikings: Connell, Butt, Roberts, Owens, Ince, Richardson, Gilmore, Murray, Johnstone, Chapelhow, Langtree, Wilde, Gregson. Interchanges: Fozard, Hall, Lawton, Billington.
Tries: Connell, Owens, Gilmore (2), Roberts
Goals: Richardson (2)
Barrow Raiders: Cresswell, Knott, Teare, Toal, Broadbent, B.Walker, Johnston, Bullock, Bishop, T.Walker, Robson, King, Gillam. Interchanges: Wood, Makin, Richards, Stack.
Tries: King, Teare
Goals:
Match reaction
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