Widnes Vikings 23-14 Barrow Raiders

Widnes Vikings recorded back-to-back victories with a hard-fought 23-14 win over Barrow Raiders at the DCBL Stadium.

Despite trailing to an early Ryan Shaw penalty goal, the Vikings responded well and ran in four tries to the Raiders’ two.

Zach Eckersley marked his home debut with a try, while there were further scores for Adam Lawton, Danny Craven and Ryan Ince.

It proved to be a successful afternoon for the Vikings, who have now won six of their opening nine league fixtures ahead of their mini mid-season break.

Team news

John Kear made a number of changes following his side’s emphatic 48-16 Good Friday victory at Swinton Lions.

Kyle Amor, Shane Grady and Liam Bent were all absent from the matchday squad, but the Vikings were boosted by the return of Owen Farnworth at prop forward.

Jordan Johnstone also started at loose forward, Sam Wilde stepped into second-row and Joe Lyons and Olly Davies returned to the bench for the Round 9 fixture.

Story of the game

After a set-for-set opening to the game, it was the Vikings who almost posted first points.

Adam Lawton ran an excellent diagonal line back on the inside after being found by a cute Danny Craven pass, but he knocked the ball forward as he stretched an arm out towards the try-line.

Not long after, the deadlock was broken, with Raiders winger Ryan Shaw making it 2-0 after the Vikings were penalised inside their own 20.

It would only take until just before the midway point for the Vikings to score the afternoon’s opening try. It came via Lawton, who, in trademark fashion, charged through a big hole in the defensive line before diving over 10m in from the left touchline.

The Vikings were quickly over again through Zach Eckersley. He marked his home debut with a try after Jack Owens’ teasing kick over the top was stabbed further on into the in-goal area by the quick-thinking Ryan Ince.

That made it 12-2, and it looked likely to stay that way heading towards half-time, until Owens stretched the hosts’ advantage with a drop-goal after the hooter had sounded.

As was the case in the first half, the second 40 began with the Raiders scoring first points.

It came 14 minutes after the break as Luke Broadbent enjoyed a walk-in in the corner after the Raiders shifted the ball left following a well-worked scrum play.

Shortly after the hour mark, the Vikings restored their double-figure advantage, and it was Craven who opened up space for himself and charged his way to the line after some desperate Raiders defending on the play before.

The lead was then extended to 23-8 inside the final 10 minutes, with quick hands resulting in Eckersley sending Ryan Ince over in the right corner.

There was still time for the Raiders to grab a late consolation through Josh Wood, who touched down after Jarrod Sammut’s tricky angled kick wasn’t dealt with near the in-goal area.

Still, it wasn’t enough to stop the Vikings recording their second successive victory in nine days.

Next game

Monday 8 May – Batley Bulldogs (A) – 7:45pm

Teams and scorers

Widnes Vikings: Matt Fleming, Ryan Ince, Joe Edge, Zach Eckersley, Kieran Dixon, Danny Craven, Jack Owens, Owen Farnworth, Matty Fozard, Callum Field, Sam Wilde, Adam Lawton, Jordan Johnstone.

Interchanges: Joe Lyons, Ant Walker, Lewis Hatton, Olly Davies (18th man: Ollie Brookes).

Tries: Lawton, Eckersley, Craven, Ince

Goals: Owens 3

Drop-goals: Owens

Barrow Raiders: Luke Cresswell, Ryan Shaw, Brett Carter, Shane Toal, Luke Broadbent, Jarrod Sammut, Ryan Johnston, Ellis Gillam, Josh Wood, Anton Iaria, Danny Langtree, Jarrad Stack, Jack Wells.

Interchanges: Nathan Mossop, Tom Hopkins, Greg Burke, Charlie Emslie (18th man: Ellis Archer).

Tries: Broadbent, Wood

Goals: Shaw 3