Widnes 26-6 Catalans: Widnes finally move off bottom spot
Last Updated: 04/06/17 5:41pm
Widnes lifted themselves off the bottom of Super League for the first time in nine weeks as they powered past lacklustre Catalans 26-6.
Denis Betts' Vikings have been bottom since April after enduring a miserable campaign that has been blighted by a combination of injuries and wretched form, but they now look to be finally turning the corner.
The result represents the first time Widnes have managed to record back-to-back wins this season, building on the shock victory against Leeds.
The victory was comfortable in the end and largely thanks to the display of their Aussies, Rhys Hanbury and Corey Thompson, who collected a try each and were in form with the boot, hitting all the goals.
The Dragons, meanwhile, have won just one of their last eight on this evidence look a team that could be dragged into the bottom four places.
Catalans started brightly enough and even opened up the scoring after nine minutes as Sam Moa steamrollered his way over after being dropped in by stand-off Luke Walsh.
Walsh added the extras from in front but soon the Dragons were on the back foot as Widnes probed through Aaron Heremaia and Hanbury as they looked to get in position to register points.
And the points eventually came as Jack Buchanan burst onto a short ball from dummy-half to scatter two Dragons defenders and force the ball down.
Hanbury hit the conversion to make it level, but Widnes were not done and the in-form Ryan Ince went close for the home side as he looked to keep up his try scoring exploits from last week against the Rhinos.
The Vikings did make one count though when Richie Myler was sin-binned by official Ben Thaler for interference as Widnes looked to get on with things.
With the Dragons down to 12 men, Widnes made hay and Charly Runciman connected with Hanbury for the Vikings' second try.
Hanbury made it two goals from two attempts before Myler re-entered the field.
The Vikings were on the hunt immediately after the restart and five minutes into the second period Thompson crossed after Runciman sent him over for an easy score.
At 16-6 the Vikings were well in charge and that lead was nearly extended on 62 minutes as Rangi Chase came within inches of scoring his first four-pointer for the Vikings.
However, Widnes didn't leave empty handed after winning a penalty which Thompson knocked over.
The Dragons began to unravel midway through the half and when Moa hit Heremaia late after the Kiwi kicked a bomb up, the referee had no option other than to send him to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
Thompson struck the penalty and at 20-6 it was Widnes' to lose.
They should have finished it with 13 minutes left on the clock as Chris Bridge broke clear but Ince could not take his pass with the line at his mercy.
The Vikings did, however, make the game safe with seven minutes to go as Gil Dudson crashed over.
