Widnes Vikings put in a brave display but fell just short against Super League champions St Helens in Mark Percival’s testimonial.
The Vikings found themselves 12-0 down at the break but fought back admirably in the second half, with Ryan Ince and Brad Holroyd both crossing.
Despite their narrow four-point defeat, there will be plenty of positives to take for John Kear and the squad ahead of next week’s opening game of the Betfred Championship season away at York RLFC Knights.
Team news
Ryan Ince returned on the wing for the Vikings, while Matty Fozard was given the nod at hooker after being named amongst the interchanges last weekend against Oldham.
There were also returns to the starting line-up for outside backs Ryan Millar and Joe Edge, with Joe Lyons named in the halves alongside Tom Gilmore for the second successive fixture in the absence of Danny Craven.
Kyle Amor started in the front row against his former club, and Shane Grady came back into the side after missing the Vikings’ previous fixture.
Story of the game
St Helens started brightly and looked to post points early, but some superb defensive efforts kept them out, with Matt Fleming forcing an error after shooting out of the line to great effect.
Their pressure did finally tell on 13 minutes when Curtis Sironen crashed onto a short ball from James Bell and raced home from 25m out.
Another break less than 10 minutes later could’ve resulted in more points, but Jack Owens showed his nous at full-back to force Jon Bennison wide before tackling him just short of the line.
The second try of the night came after good work down the Saints left edge, finished by Lewis Dodd as he supported Jonny Lomax to score on his return from injury.
The Vikings responded well and nearly crossed themselves after a good break down the left flank from Joe Edge. He slipped a pass inside to Olly Davies, who slipped at the vital moment.
Nevertheless, the second-rower was held down for too long by Joey Lussick and was subsequently sent to the sin-bin by referee Michael Smaill with five minutes of the half remaining.
Shortly after the break, and when Saints were back to their full complement of 13, they struck again. A testing high kick was spilled backwards near the Vikings try-line and James Bell reacted quickest to the loose ball to touch down.
From that point on, the Vikings started to assert some level of control and soon went close when Olly Davies was held up over the line by some desperate St Helens defence.
But the try did come shortly after the hour mark when Fleming flicked an offload out for Ryan Ince to touch down in the right-hand corner.
The deficit was reduced to four with five minutes to go when Brad Holroyd somehow managed to power his way over after overcoming several defenders out wide.
The Vikings pushed for a levelling score in the dying stages but were kept at bay as Saints edged Mark Percival’s testimonial.
Next game
Sunday 5 February – York RLFC Knights (A) – 3pm
Teams and scorers
St Helens: Jon Benisson, Jumah Sambou, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Davies, Tee Ritson, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Agnatius Paasi, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Sione Mata’utia, Curtis Sironen, James Bell.
Interchanges: Jake Wingfield, Dan Norman, Sam Royle, Lewis Baxter, Taylor Pemberton, George Delaney, Daniel Moss, Ben Lane, McKenzie Buckley, Wes Bruines, Jake Burns, Keane Gilford, Eliot Peposhi, Alfie Pyke, Will Roberts, Jonathan Vaughan, Dayon Sambou.
Tries: Sironen, Dodd, Bell
Goals: Davies 2
Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Ryan Millar, Matt Fleming, Joe Edge, Kieran Dixon, Joe Lyons, Tom Gilmore, Owen Farnworth, Matty Fozard, Kyle Amor, Shane Grady, Sam Wilde, Adam Lawton.
Interchanges: Brad Holroyd, Ryan Ince, Callum Field, Jordan Johnstone, Lewis Hatton, Will Tilleke, Ant Walker, Liam Bent, Aaron Brown, Olly Davies.
Tries: Ince, Holroyd
Goals: Gilmore 2
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