Report: Widnes Vikings 36-28 Whitehaven

Widnes Vikings recorded their third successive win after overcoming a spirited Whitehaven side 36-28 in Round 20 of the Betfred Championship.

The Vikings were pegged back on three separate occasions by their Cumbrian opponents before kicking on in the final quarter to secure the competition points.

Joe Edge scored twice as he continued his impressive run at full-back, while Ollie Brookes also caught the eye as the Vikings climbed to within a point of the play-off spots.

Team news

Interim head coach Neil Belshaw named the same starting side for the third successive match following wins against Bradford Bulls and Keighley Cougars.

Aaron Brown returned to the bench in place of Jacob Jones, while Lewis Hatton was named as 18th man.

Story of the game

The Vikings enjoyed a dream start when Joe Edge’s opening kick-off bounced between two Whitehaven men and found touch, 10m from the try-line.

Within a matter of seconds, the deadlock was broken as the ball came right and Edge burrowed his way over near the corner.

Whitehaven’s response was shift, and they got their opening try with six minutes on the clock as Lucas Castle twisted his way over the line under pressure.

Edge’s second of the day made it 12-6 before quick hands saw the full-back turn provider for Ollie Brookes out wide.

A break downfield from Dion Aiye gave the visitors field position shortly before the half-hour mark, and they hit back on the very next play as Dave Eccleston found space to score in the corner and reduce the deficit to 16-12.

Eccleston scored again on the stroke of half-time after a length-of-the-field Whitehaven breakaway, but Josh Rourke’s missed conversion meant it would remain 16-16 at the break.

Six minutes into the second half, Owen Farnworth powered over close to the line for his first try of the 2023 campaign, but the lead wouldn’t last long as a converted Ryan King effort drew the teams level again.

However, the Vikings rallied and re-took the lead thanks to a rampaging effort from Shane Grady, and Olly Davies soon reacted quickest to extend their advantage after Whitehaven failed to deal with a bouncing Tom Forber kick towards the in-goal area.

A penalty from Dixon extended the Vikings lead beyond two converted tries, and not even a Guy Graham consolation on the hooter could dampen the hosts’ mood as they continued their fine recent form in soaking second half conditions.

Next game

Saturday 5 August – Newcastle Thunder (A) – 3:00pm kick-off

Teams and scorers

Widnes Vikings: Joe Edge, Kieran Dixon, Max Roberts, Matt Fleming, Ollie Brookes, Joe Lyons, Tom Gilmore, Callum Field, Matty Fozard, Adam Lawton, Sam Wilde, Shane Grady, Olly Davies.

Interchanges: Owen Farnworth, Tom Forber, Ant Walker, Aaron Brown (18th man: Lewis Hatton).

Tries: Edge 2, Brookes, Farnworth, Grady, Davies

Goals: Dixon 6

Whitehaven: Josh Rourke, Dave Eccleston, Chris Taylor, Curtis Teare, Oscar Doran, Jamie Doran, Jake Carter, Lucas Castle, James Newton, Lasarusa Tabu, Connor Holliday, Ryan King, Guy Graham.

Interchanges: Will Groves, Lachlan Lanskey, Dion Aiye, Daniel Spencer-Tonks.

Tries: Castle, Eccleston 2, King, Graham

Goals: Rourke 4