WIDNES have beaten North Wales Crusaders 40-10 in the friendly.

They got off to a bad start with Liam Carberry helped off the field and sent to hospital for an x-Ray on a suspected broken leg.

Crusaders took the lead when they hacked on twice from over the half way for Dan Birkett to score.

Tommy Johnson goaled to give Crusaders a 6-0 lead.

Widnes hit back with the first of Danny Tickle's two tries followed by a great show and go effort from Kevin Brown in between them.

Twinkle-toed half back Joe Mellor then danced and wrinkled through for another try to make it 22-6 at the break.

Widnes were first out of the blocks in the second half when good support play from Chris Dean stretched the lead to 28-6, with Jack Owens adding the extras.

Crusaders would not roll over and a classy try from Birkett was fully deserved.

Both sides were throwing the ball about and Vikings were rewarded for their slick hands with a touchdown in the corner from Paddy Flynn.

Tries from wings Jack Owens and Kieran Butterworth brought up the 40 points mark.

North Wales Crusaders: Johnson; Birkett, Wilde, Bannister, Mass am; Moulsdale, White; Walker, Ashall, Mills, Adamson. subs: Brown, Stephens, MacDonald, Clarke, Reid, Griffiths, Hudson, K Ashall, Clay.

Widnes: Hanbury; Flynn, Marsh, Dean, Owens; Brown, Mellor; Gerrard, Carberry, O'Carroll, Galea, Tickle, Cahill. Subs: L Hulme, D Hulme, Craven, Gilmore, Johnson, Joseph, Pickersgill, Allen, Leuluai, Isa.