FULL TIME: Widnes Vikings 36 Hull FC 16 (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

FULL TIME: Widnes Vikings 36 Hull FC 16

7:36pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Sport By Mike Parsons

VIKINGS came from behind against Hull to seal their first home win of the season.

The success may have come at a cost, though, as debutant Kevin Brown had to be carried off the field with an ankle injury after helping Vikings to turn the game around.

Denis Betts’ men trailed 12-4 in the first half but a wonderful interception try by Paddy Flynn sent Vikings into the dressing rooms on a high at half time and the confidence showed on their return.

Within a minute Vikings had gone into the lead for the first time and assembled a 24-12 winning cushion by the 62nd minute mark.

It was quite a turnaround for Vikings since their last outing against Humberside opposition.

Vikings went into the game much changed from the side that lost 44-18 at Hull Kingston Rovers a fortnight ago.

As well as Brown making his eagerly anticipated debut at stand off, fellow England international Gareth Hock was handed his first start while winger Patrick Ah Van and prop Ben Kavanagh were given their first runs of the season.

And with Ben Cross returning from suspension, it meant those missing out included Wille Isa, Dave Allen, Phil Joseph and Macgraff Leuluai.

Vikings were on the end of two harsh calls from referee Richard Silverwood in the opening moments, leading to the Airlie Birds taking a 6-0 lead in the second mind.

First, Paddy Flynn appeared to be dragged into touch but a scrum was awarded to Hull and then Brown was adjudged to have played at the ball when his hand deflected a pass in the process of making a tackle.

The visitors made the most of their possession when an Andy Lynch offload and Richard Horne basketball-style pass gave Joe Westerman the space to dart over and he converted himself.

A 40/20 from Jon Clarke and a string of penalties allowed Vikings to build pressure of their own, which was rewarded with a try from Flynn in the 20th minute.

Joe Mellor and Rhys Hanbury combined to provide Flynn with space and he forced his way over in heavy traffic, although too far out for Hanbury to convert.

A Hock high tackle gave Hull the chance to raid again and they took it when recalled half back Brett Seymour supplied a clinical short pass for Ben Galea to crash over after defying tackles from Mellor and Chris Dean. Westerman’s conversion left Hull 12-4 ahead after 26 minutes.

When Clarke conceded a penalty for interference Vikings were under the cosh again but Flynn came to his rescue in stunning fashion.

Seymour flung out a long wide pass towards Briscoe but Flynn read the play, intercepted and after stepping inside Kirk Yeaman beautifully he had a clear field in front of him.

Flynn raced 90 metres to finish the job, holding off the desperate diving lunge of covering winger Tom Lineham just before the try line. Ah Van’s extras left Vikings 12-10 behind for the break.

Vikings got the second half off to a great start.

Rampaging Hock bust his way through Joe Arundel on the first drive from a penalty and speeding Cameron Phelps accepted his offload before beating McDonnell into the corner. Ah Van’s conversion was wide off a post but Vikings led 14-12 after 41 minutes.

Five minutes later a Brown kick to the posts was regathered by Chris Dean for try number three, this time converted by Ah Van for 20-12.

Brown ended up in a heap on the floor with a left ankle injury and moments after he was helped off the field Phelps went through a gaping hole found by a Hanbury pass. Ah Van was wide with his shot at goal but Vikings led 24-12 after 62 minutes.

There was fight left in Hull though and they were back in it in the 65th minute when Tom Lineham held off challenges from Hanbury and Lloyd White to complete a 40-metre dash. But Westerman’s missed goal attempt left the visitors eight points adrift.

But Vikings showed they could handle well the reshuffle from Brown’s exit.

Some swift handling brought a scramble over the line from Frank Winterstein as Vikings confirmed their victory in the 73rd minute, with Hanbury adding the goal.

Hock’s barge-over score from dummy half Clarke’s pass in the 78th minute was icing on the cake and Hanbury put the cherry on top with the touchline conversion.

The majority of the fans in the 5,541 crowd went home very happy.

Vikings: Rhys Hanbury; Paddy Flynn, Stefan Marsh, Cameron Phelps, Patrick Ah Van; Kevin Brown, Joe Mellor; Ben Cross, Jon Clarke, Eamon O'Carroll, Gareth Hock, Chris Dean, Hep Cahill. Subs: Frank Winterstein, Ben Kavanagh, Lloyd White, Alex Gerrard.

Hull FC: Shannon McDonnell; Tom Lineham, Joe Arundel, Kirk Yeaman, Tom Briscoe; Richard Horne, Brett Seymour; Mark O'Meley, Danny Houghton, Andy Lynch, Ben Galea, Joe Westerman, Richard Whiting. Subs: Paul Johnson, Danny Tickle, Jay Pitts, Aaron Heremaia.