Widnes 14-28 Warrington: Wolves launch comeback to defeat Vikings
Last Updated: 05/08/17 4:46pm
Warrington made a fine start to the Super 8s Qualifiers after hitting back from 14-6 down to claim Cheshire derby bragging rights over Widnes with a 28-14 victory over the Vikings.
The Wolves were tipped to be challenging for top honours this year but a poor campaign has left them in the middle eights, and they may have been fearing the worst on Friday when Widnes opened up an eight-point lead.
But second-half tries from Tom Lineham, Dec Patton, Matty Russell and Peta Hiku saw the visitors home against a side missing key player Rangi Chase, who has been suspended for testing positive for cocaine.
It could have been a different story had Widnes converted pressure into points after bossing the first half but, minus Chase, they could not conjure up the plays at crucial moments.
The hosts, however, had plenty of muscle returning to their line-up after an injury-ravaged season had kept key players out.
Chris Bridge, Danny Craven, Rhys Hanbury, Chris Houston, Lloyd White, Manase Manuokafoa and Jack Buchanan all returned, but their presence was not enough to drag them out of the doldrums.
Warrington drew first blood with a well-worked try from Jack Hughes, who was sent clear by Kevin Brown.
Widnes replied in clinical fashion with Wales international Lloyd White fizzing a neat ball from the deck into the hands of Jack Buchanan, who crashed over from short range.
The Vikings kept up the heat on their fierce rivals and Charly Runciman went close after Corey Thompson had crafted a good opening for him, but the Warrington defence was up to the task.
Widnes did not have to wait long for their next points, however, as just after the half an hour mark White broke the Wolves line and delivered a perfect inside ball to Joe Mellor, who skipped in unopposed.
At 12-6 at the break it was all to play for and Widnes' Denis Betts was definitely the happier of the two coaches after his side had produced some of the best rugby that had seen Super League's bottom placed club start to come to life.
Warrington's Tony Smith was left scratching his head and his side fell further behind when White split the posts with a penalty after the Wolves had been caught offside.
But the visitors were by no means out of it and on 50 minutes they struck with some power after quick hands from Ryan Atkins put Lineham in a position to fly over, which he did with a spectacular dive in the corner.
Patton sliced the conversion but Warrington had dragged themselves back into it.
They should have gone ahead five minutes later as Stefan Ratchford burst clear but his 30-yard pass to Lineham was dropped with the line at his mercy.
Brown was beginning to turn the screw and the Wolves were finally finding their rhythm, and when Patton danced over for a solo effort, the writing was on the wall.
Russell was next to cross after Peta Hiku had gone clear.
A Patton penalty made it 24-14 to the Wolves and there was certainly no coming back when Hiku steamed over in the corner to get in on the act.
