The Vikings bounced back from last week’s 1895 Cup defeat to Swinton in emphatic fashion, dispatching Doncaster 50-16 in the Challenge Cup third round.
The Vikings ran in 10 tries from seven different try scorers to set up a date with Bradford Bulls at Odsal Stadium in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.
It was Doncaster who struck first however as Joe Lovodua crossed after just 2 minutes to put the visitors 6 points up, a period of pressure then built on our line with only a fantastic last-ditch tackle from Ryan Ince denying Halliday a try in the corner.
The Vikings then hit back scoring back-to-back tries through Kieran Dixon and the talismanic Lloyd Roby to take a 10-6 lead.
After a period of back and forth between the two sides the Vikings hit their stride scoring two tries at the end of the first half.
Ryan Ince scored in the corner after backing up another Lloyd Roby break before Matt Fleming crossed following a fantastic offload from Rhodri Lloyd to put us up 20-6 at the interval.
The two sides traded scores at the start of the second half with Ryan Ince crossing for his brace and Reece Lyne scoring for the visitors.
A second for Matt Fleming and a try for Halliday from Doncaster had us leading 28-16 just past the hour mark.
Doncaster went close to cutting the deficit but a knock-on from a kick as they crossed the line gave us the ball back.
It was a turn of possession that proved vital with the Vikings scoring back-to-back tries from Rhodri Lloyd and Sam Wilde to establish a 24-point lead.
Kieran Dixon then grabbed his brace with 10 minutes to go before Joe Edge sealed the victory after the Vikings spread the ball left from deep inside their half.
Dixon nailed the touchline conversion to take the score to 50-16 and cap off a great performance from the team.
The Vikings now turn their attention to North Wales Crusaders next week in our 1895 Cup group.
COACHES COMMENTS
Head coach, Allan Coleman said: “I’m really happy with everybody. It’s been a tough week for everyone involved with the club.
“When everybody seems to be against you and not happy with things it’s always a tough and lonely place but I’ve got a great group of people who work with me and a great bunch of lads.
“I want to thank them (the players), as we’ve only had 17 bodies to choose from this week. We didn’t have an 18th man and we lost two middles again today.
“It’s been backs against the walls but it just shows what we’ve got in us and I’m proud of the group.”
TEAMS AND SCORERS
Widnes Vikings: Dixon, Butt, Fleming, Edge, Ince, Lyons, Roby, Kirk, Fozard, Bent, Lloyd, Wilde, Roberts
Interchanges: Gilmore, Gregson, Walker, Tilleke
Tries: Dixon x2, Ince x2, Fleming x2, Roby, Lloyd, Wilde, Edge
Goals: Dixon x5
Doncaster: Guzdek, Taulapapa, Lyne, Hall, Halliday, Boas, Robinson, Foster, Burns, Matagi, Smeaton, Sutcliffe, Lovodua
Interchanges: Hey, Hepi, Mafi, Thompson, Hall (18th)
Tries: Lovodua, Lyne, Halliday
Goals: Robinson x2
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