Wakefield 30-4 Widnes: Trinity continue to climb Super League
Last Updated: 07/04/17 11:32pm
Dean Hadley grabbed two tries to help Wakefield gain a fifth win in six games and continue their climb up the Betfred Super League table with a 30-4 success over Widnes on Friday night.
Trinity, six days after what many considered their best performance of the season - a 38-18 victory at Catalans Dragons - continued their upward momentum with other tries from Bill Tupou, Tom Johnstone, Scott Grix and Craig Huby, while Liam Finn kicked three goals.
The Vikings, who gained their first win of the season at Leigh the previous Saturday, had a sole reply through winger Corey Thompson.
It was the first time in almost 12 months that the West Yorkshire side had registered three successive wins and leaves them in high spirits prior to next week's eagerly awaited Good Friday derby at league leaders Castleford.
Trinity boss Chris Chester had the luxury of naming the same side for the third week in a row, while Widnes were boosted by the return from injury of Thompson, Joe Mellor and Alex Gerrard with Gill Dudson back to make his 100th senior appearance.
An early Sam Williams kick bounced awkwardly and forced a goal line drop out to put pressure on the Widnes defence, who conceded less than a minute later when Finn put Tupou over from close range.
Williams failed to convert but Trinity continued to impress with swift and accurate handling.
It was that speed and dexterity that resulted in Finn and Grix creating the space for Johnstone to continue his recent scoring run with a sixth try in four games.
Widnes responded almost immediately when Thompson darted onto a kick from Tom Gilmore who, like Williams twice before him and once afterwards, was unable to add the extras.
Johnstone took a towering Jacob Miller kick and appeared wrapped up but somehow off-loaded to Hadley, who had a clear run to the line, before Tinirau Arona went close to extending Trinity's 12-4 half-time advantage but was held short by a posse of defenders.
The second period was all Wakefield, with Widnes struggling to free themselves from their own half.
A timely Matt Whitley tackle on breaking Wakefield skipper Danny Kirmond prevented the home side going further ahead just after the interval.
But Trinity did not have to wait long before a thrilling Johnstone break down the left enabled the supporting Grix to cross midway between the posts and the touchline.
Finn, taking over the kicking duties, landed the first conversion of the night to give Trinity a 14-point cushion.
The lead was up to 20 just before the hour after a powerful drive and off-load from David Fifita handed Hadley his second try and Finn again converted.
Craig Huby charged onto a short pass to score and add to Widnes' woes. The visitors' night was summed up when Chris Houston was deemed to have knocked on while trying ground a bobbling Mellor grubber.
