Widnes Vikings fightback defeats Catalan Dragons
Last Updated: 13/07/15 11:15am
Two tries from winger Paddy Flynn helped Widnes end their five-game losing streak with a 29-22 win against the misfiring Catalans Dragons.
Flynn's two scores, either side of half-time, handed the Vikings the edge and confidence to finish off the visitors as they finally gave their home supporters something to cheer about after a dismal period for Denis Betts' team.
Despite a late flurry the Dragons ran out of steam at a crucial stage and paid the price. The French outfit raced to a two-try lead and were looking strong, but lost their way and surrendered to a Widnes fightback - conceding 29 unanswered points.
Catalans made the breakthrough early as Ben Pomeroy passed to Louis Anderson to score.
Scott Dureau converted and it did not take long for their next six-pointer as Elliot Whitehead took a short ball from Ian Henderson and skipped his way through three Vikings defenders to comfortably touch down.
Widnes needed an urgent reply after a poor opening 15 minutes, and that came from winger Patrick Ah Van, who dived over in the corner. Stefan Marsh then slotted over an impressive touchline conversion to give the Vikings the boost they needed.
Ten minutes later Widnes drew the scores level as Tom Gilmore, stepping in for inspirational skipper Kevin Brown, chipped over the Catalans defensive line and gathered to touch down for an impressive solo score that Brown would have been proud of.
The Vikings were beginning to find their feet, with Gilmore pulling the strings from the middle, and they edged in front for the first time with two minutes left of the half as Flynn finished off a long-range move in style. Marsh hit the conversion and at 18-12 the home side were showing signs that they could go on to win.
It was Flynn again who managed to put the Vikings further ahead with a clinical score down the right hand side and under pressure from three would-be tacklers. Widnes were heading for the finishing line at 22-12 as Catalans flagged.
Gilmore sealed the points with 15 minutes to go as he slotted over a penalty and landed a clever drop goal to give Catalans a difficult target of three scores, which in the end was beyond them.
Ah Van helped himself to another for Widnes late on after he collected Gilmore's pinpoint kick through.
Whitehead scored his second three minutes from time to cap off a solid personal performance, and Morgan Escare raced in 60 seconds later, but it was too little, too late for the Catalan side.
