REPORT: WIDNES VIKINGS 28-28 WHITEHAVEN

The Vikings extended their unbeaten home record this afternoon after a 28-28 draw with Whitehaven at the DCBL Stadium.

Allan Coleman’s side scored two late tries to take a point after trailing by 12 points at the hour mark.

Whitehaven struck first after Will Evans intercepted Tom Gilmore’s pass to set Edene Gebbie away before he found the supporting Jake Maizen to score by the posts.

The Vikings cut the deficit to two points through Mike Butt as he took Jack Owens’ cut-out pass on the swivel to dive in at the corner.

The visitors responded however, breaking up the middle before a series of offloads allowed Lachlan Hanneghan to cross near the posts and extend the Whitehaven lead to 12-4.

Widnes found a foothold in the game, eventually capitalising through Jordan Johnstone as he gathered Gilmore’s deflected kick to cross under the posts. Sam Wilde then gave us our first lead of the game after great play from Joe Lyons.

The lead was shortlived however, as the visitors moved it left from a scrum, allowing Maizen to stride down the sideline and grab his second to give Whitehaven an 18-16 lead at the interval.

Jonty Gorley’s side started the second half in similar fashion as Maizen latched onto a chip over the top to bag his hat-trick and take the Whitehaven lead to eight points.

Another interception from Will Evans gave the visitors daylight as he set Edene Gebbie away to cross for a try that took the scores to 16-28.

The Vikings however responded as they have so many times this season, first through the instrumental Matty Fozard as he burrowed his way over from close range to cut the deficit to six points

Fittingly, Jack Owens then crossed for his 100th career try with just two minutes left on the clock, before Gilmore held his nerve to slot the conversion from out wide and secure a point.

The Vikings turn their attention to a much-anticipated trip to the south of France next weekend as we face Toulouse.

COACHES COMMENTS

Head Coach Allan Coleman said: “It was a great game to watch for the neutral, both sets of supporters probably got their money’s worth.

“From our perspective, we’re a bit disappointed. I feel as though we gifted them things and that’s not us. We gifted tries which you can’t do in this competition because it’s a tough competition.

“With ten minutes to go I think the games probably gone away from us and then with a minute to go I think we’re going to go on and win it.

“It was an end-to-end tussle, and we’ve been in three of them now but I can’t fault my players, they’ve shown they believe and we’ll take the point.”