Agar - We lost our focus

Viking rue crucial sin-binning of winger Flynn in closing stages

Last updated: 2nd September 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Agar - We lost our focus
There is almost a feeling in the changing of a loss, but at the start of the year we would have settled for any win and that shows how far we've come.

Richard Agar
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Wakefield coach Richard Agar admitted his side were "lucky to get away with it" after snatching a crucial 22-18 victory over Widnes.

The Wildcats leapfrogged above Bradford in the final play-off berth in the Stobart Super League table thanks to a narrow triumph over the competition's bottom club.

They needed a 75th minute try from skipper Danny Kirmond to finally see off the Vikings, who had led the televised contest 10-6 at the break.

Agar was happy to take the win, their sixth in a row, but admitted it felt more like a defeat after his side had made heavy weather of it at the Rapid Solictors Stadium.

"There is almost a feeling in the changing of a loss, but at the start of the year we would have settled for any win and that shows how far we've come," he said.

"We showed enough quality for the third week in a row to come up with a late win.

"I think both coaches will be frustrated and really disappointed with the amount of skill both teams showed. There was plenty of effort but both lacked skill and composure and any imagination.

"I thought our offensive game was a complete write-off. We were lucky to get away with it on the back of our errors and the amount of defending we had to do. We really lost our focus on attack."

Two chances

Wakefield can clinch eighth place with a win at Salford in the final round of matches in the regular season next week, though they could still qualify with a loss if the Bulls fail to win in Perpignan against Catalan Dragons.

The Vikings, meanwhile, were left to look back with regret on the sin-binning of winger Paddy Flynn on 67 minutes for a professional foul.

"The sin-binning came at a real crucial time," said Widnes coach Denis Betts. "We put ourselves in that situation with some mental errors.

"I'm real proud of the efforts. Wakefield have been in these games for the last few weeks and it showed they were able to cope with that.

"We were a bit edgy. With a bit of composure, we could have got more rewards.

"There was loads of effort, we just need to knock a few rough edges off, but we're moving in the right direction.

"Defensively we've got better in the second half of the season."

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