Widnes Vikings kicked off the new season with a deserved 19-12 victory away at York RLFC Knights.
Having twice been pegged back by the hosts, it took two close-range finishes in the second half from Shane Grady and Ant Walker to seal the win.
Tom Gilmore then added further gloss to the scoreline with a late drop-goal as the Vikings began their 2023 campaign in ideal fashion.
Team news
John Kear handed first competitive Vikings starts to Ryan Millar and Kyle Amor, with fellow newcomers Lewis Hatton and Ant Walker named on the bench.
Tom Gilmore made his second Vikings debut, partnering Joe Lyons in the halves.
Ryan Ince was also selected as 18th man. Under new concussion protocols, the 18th man is able to come off the bench if three of his team-mates fail their HIA’s during the match.
Story of the game
After trading sets in the early exchanges, it took just nine minutes for the Vikings to take the lead at the LNER Community Stadium.
Having already caused problems with a deft chip-and-chase four minutes into the contest, a high kick from Tom Gilmore was knocked back, before the ball was quickly passed towards the right edge for Ryan Millar to dive over in the corner.
The Vikings had chances to extend that advantage, but Olly Davies and Joe Edge were both denied within 5m of the York line.
From then on, the hosts grew into the contest and struck back shortly before the half-hour mark.
Half-back Liam Harris delivered a neat grubber kick which was pounced on by Danny Kirmond, with James Glover adding the conversion to put his side 6-4 ahead.
A quick start to the second half saw the visitors re-take the lead as Shane Grady crashed onto a short ball close to the line before freeing an arm to power the ball down.
However, for the second time, York went back ahead not long after. Harris dummied his way through the defensive line before angling a kick towards the corner for Joe Brown to gather and then touch down.
With the game entering the final 15 minutes, it took impact from the bench to re-establish the Vikings’ advantage.
Fresh onto the field, Ant Walker used his size to devastating effect, crashing over from close range directly under the posts.
Jack Owens added the extra two, and he soon made it 18-12 thanks to an inch-perfect penalty goal from 40m out.
A late drop-goal from Gilmore sealed the victory, with the Knights not having enough time to find a response in the dying minutes.
Next game
Sunday 12 February – Keighley Cougars (H) – 3pm
Teams and scorers
York RLFC Knights: Matty Marsh, Joe Brown, James Glover, Myles Harrison, AJ Towse, James Cunningham, Liam Harris, Jon Luke Kirby, Will Jubb, Conor Fitzsimmons, Danny Kirmond, Bailey Antrobus, Jordan Thompson
Interchanges: Ronan Michael, Josh Daley, Jack Teanby, Ben Barnard
Tries: Kirmond, Brown
Goals: Glover 2
Widnes Vikings: Jack Owens, Ryan Millar, Matt Fleming, Joe Edge, Kieran Dixon, Joe Lyons, Tom Gilmore, Adam Lawton, Jordan Johnstone, Kyle Amor, Olly Davies, Shane Grady, Liam Bent.
Interchanges: Matty Fozard, Callum Field, Lewis Hatton, Ant Walker (18th man: Ryan Ince).
Tries: Millar, Grady, Walker
Goals: Gilmore, Owens 2
Drop goals: Gilmore
Man of the Match
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