Super League champions St Helens record 30-20 win over Widnes Vikings

Lance Hohaia: Scored a try in either half against Widnes

St Helens produced a stunning second-half performance as they came from behind to record a 30-20 Super League win at Widnes Vikings and move top of the table.

The Vikings deservedly led 14-6 at the interval but they blown away in the second period as the visitors scored 24 points to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.

Lance Hohaia crossed for two of the visitors' five tries, with the outstanding Atelea Vea, Luke Thompson and Jordan Turner also touching down.

Widnes notched their first home win over Saints for 20 years last season and made a flying start at the Select Security Stadium with Eamon O'Carroll charging over from short range after Danny Tickle was held short.

Tickle had no problem with the straightforward conversion to fire his side into a 6-0 lead.

Alex Walmsley was bundled into touch as Saints pressed but the Widnes defence was found wanting on 15 minutes when Hohaia scampered over from dummy half, with Travis Burns adding the goal.

Widnes regained the lead when Rhys Hanbury put Ah Van over in the corner and Stefan Marsh booted the touchline conversion after Tickle had gone off

Marsh struck a penalty five minutes before the interval to make it 14-6 and Saints could have no complaints after sloppy handling.

Paddy Flynn failed to collect the restart and Widnes paid the price. Patrick Ah Van fumbled a Jon Wilkin kick, Vea pounced and Burns converted to cut the gap to two points.

The Vikings lost Chris Dean with a rib injury and were forced to drop out twice in quick succession from under their own posts as Saints stepped up the tempo.

The pressure told with teenage forward Thompson forcing his way over to give Saints the lead for the first time after 53 minutes.

Saints put daylight between the sides four minutes later through Turner, and Hohaia wriggled over for his second try on the hour mark to make it 30-14.

Widnes managed a late try from Aaron Heremaia but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from slipping to a second successive defeat.