Widnes Vikings 12-14 Toulouse Olympique

There was late heartbreak for Widnes Vikings in the Betfred Championship as Toulouse Olympique snatched a controversial 14-12 win in Round 6.

On an action-packed afternoon at the DCBL Stadium, goal-kicking proved to be the difference between the sides, with three tries scored apiece.

There were plenty of impressive displays from the Vikings, and winger Kieran Dixon scored on his return to the side, but they fell just short against the side relegated from Super League last season.

Team news

Winger Kieran Dixon was back in the starting line-up after illness forced him to miss the club’s last two matches.

Kyle Amor and Shane Grady also came back into the side after being rested last week, as did fellow forward Lewis Hatton, who was named on the bench on his 100th career appearance.

Ollie Brookes, Brad Holroyd, Adam Lawton and Will Tilleke all made way following the Vikings’ 80-4 victory at home to Wests Warriors in the Betfred Challenge Cup seven days ago.

Story of the game

After a set-for-set opening, the Vikings managed to gain an early foothold in the contest.

They had the chance to break the deadlock from the kicking tee after the visitors were penalised for a high tackle, but Kieran Dixon was unsuccessful with his attempt.

Not long after, Toulouse half-back Josh Ralph was sent to the sin-bin for a high shot on Ryan Ince – although the yellow card was more due to an accumulation of quickfire penalties against the visitors.

With their man advantage, the Vikings posted the first try of the day as Jack Owens’ fine cut-out pass sent Ince over for an acrobatic finish in the corner.

It took until the midway point of the half for the visitors to respond through Joe Bretherton, who pounced on a neat grubber kick from Jake Shorrocks to touch down 5m in from the touchline.

That left the score level at 4-4, and six minutes later the French side crossed again as Reubenn Rennie powered his way over following a short pass from Ralph.

He touched down under the posts, and a successful conversion from Shorrocks meant it would be 10-4 at half-time.

There would be no second half points until just before the hour mark, and it was the Vikings who reduced the deficit as a slick move towards the left flank culminated in Owens firing a pass out wide for Kieran Dixon to go over in the corner.

John Kear’s side then hit the front thanks to a try from Joe Edge. He was the beneficiary of another well-timed short ball from Owens, before crashing through the defensive line and touching down.

That made it 12-10, but there would be a late twist in the tale when Danny Craven was sent to the sin-bin for a late tackle on Robin Bronchon.

And with their man advantage, the French side went over in the corner through Paul Marcon.

A missed conversion meant it would be a two-point ball game, and the Vikings won the ball back from the kick-off to set up a grandstand finale.

But despite plenty of probing on both flanks, the visitors’ defence stood firm as they hung on to a narrow victory away from home.

Next game

Sunday 26 March – Newcastle Thunder (H) – 3pm

Teams and scorers

Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Ryan Ince, Matt Fleming, Joe Edge, Kieran Dixon, Danny Craven, Joe Lyons, Callum Field, Matty Fozard, Kyle Amor, Shane Grady, Olly Davies, Aaron Brown.

Interchanges: Ant Walker, Jordan Johnstone, Sam Wilde, Lewis Hatton (18th man: Liam Bent).

Tries: Ince, Dixon, Edge

Goals:

Toulouse Olympique: Oliver Ashall-Bott, Paul Marcon, Mathieu Jussuame, Guy Armitage, Robin Bronchon, Joshua Ralph, Jake Shorrocks, Lambert Belmas, Anthony Marion, Greg Richards, Joe Bretheron, Reubenn Rennie, Harrison Hansen.

Interchanges: Eloi Pelissier, Hugo Pezet, Dimitri Biscarro, Latrell Schaumkel.

Tries: Bretherton, Rennie, Marcon

Goals: Shorrocks