Vikings conquer Giants

Scott Grix: Scored Huddersfield's third try against Widnes

Patrick Ah Van: Scored a try and kicked five goals in Sunday's win

Huddersfield Giants suffered a fourth consecutive defeat following a last-gasp 26-22 defeat to the Widnes Vikings at the Halton Stadium.

Denis Betts' team raced into a 16-0 lead but the Giants fought back to trail by just four points at half time.

Scott Grix' 67th-minute try levelled the scores at 20 apiece, after two second-half penalties from Patrick Ah Van, before Danny Brough's fifth conversion put the visitors in front for the first time last on.

However, Widnes were not to be denied, ex-Hull FC full-back Cameron Phelps securing the two points in the last minute of the game after diving on the loose ball after Rhys Hanbury's kick hit a post.

Explosive start

Widnes started the game in explosive fashion and the bottom side in the Stobart Super League found themselves 16-0 ahead after 11 minutes following an opening three-try salvo.

The home side broke the deadlock after two minutes when following an initial midfield break by Hanbury, winger Ah Van crashed over in the corner.

Five minutes later Widnes increased their lead when Joe Mellor's inch perfect kick was pounced on by Hanbury for his side's second try, one which Ah Van converted to make it 10-0.

And it got even better for the Vikings when on 11 minutes Paul McShane's grubber was dived on by prop forward Ben Cross for the first professional try in the 33-year-old's long career.

Ah Van was once again on target with the conversion to make it a surprising soreline of 16-0.

Huddersfield finally got on the scoreboard on the half-hour mark when second row Dale Ferguson crashed over from close range,Danny Brough converting.

Then, six minutes before half-time, Widnes were reduced to 12 men when referee George Stokes sent substitute Steve Pickersgill to the sin-bin when he was penalised for holding down Greg Eden as the Giants looked to break from deep.

Extra man

And the visitors immediately made the extra man tell as David Fa'alogo took Brough's pass to score under the posts, leaving a straightforward kick to make it 16-12 at half time.

A high tackle by Michael Lawrence on Hanbury allowed Ah Van to kick a simple penalty two minutes after the restart to edge Widnes further in front and he repeated the dose soon after to stretch the lead to eight points.

The Giants set up a stirring finale when Scott Grix crossed for a try in the 67th minute, Brough adding the extras and then two penalties to edge the Giants in front five minutes from time.

Yet Widnes refused to lie down and after Hanbury struck the woodwork, Phelps was in the perfect place to grab a dramatic last-gasp winner.

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