A DEPLETED Widnes side went down 36-6 to Salford Red Devils as the curtain came down on the regular season at the A J Bell Stadium.

It was always going to be an uphill battle for the Vikings without players of the calibre of Rhys Hanbury, Kevin Brown, Danny Tickle, Alex Gerard and Jon Clarke.

And they came up against a home side keen to avenge three defeats at the hands of Widnes this season.

Salford opened the scoring on four minutes after Widnes fullback Jack Owens dropped a Rangi Chase bomb and from the resulting pressure second row Harrison Hansen crashed over.

Josh Griffin added the extras and he was on target again six minutes later when another dropped bomb, this time by Patrick Ah Van, allowed Junior Sa'u to pick up the pieces and touch down.

Having been under the cosh in the early stages, Widnes finally established some field position but couldn't quite find the key to unlock the Red Devils defence.

But just when it seemed Denis Betts's men had gained a foothold in the game, they were hit by a double blow just before half-time.

A superb break by Salford substitute Jason Walton was backed up by ex-St Helens forward Tony Puletua who strolled to the posts.

And with the half-time hooter imminent, Rangi Chase danced through after Logan Tomkins had been held short for his side's fourth conveted try to make it 24-0.

Things got even bleaker on 51 minutes when Griffin outjumped Paddy Flynn to pluck a Chase bomb out of the air to register another six-pointer.

When slick hands created the space for Sa'u to score his second try of the game it looked like the home side were ready to really put Widnes to the sword.

But to their credit, Widnes steeled themselves and enjoyed their best spell of the game in the final quarter.

Flynn went close from a Joe Mellor kick but the ball jjust evaded him at the right corner..

Not to be deterred, it was second time lucky for Mellor when his cross-kick saw Ah Van soar above his opposite number and show good strength to force his way over.

Jack Owens booted the conversion and it was no doubt a relief to Vikings fans that their side had managed to trouble the scorers.

Ah Van went close again late in the piece from another cross-kick but by then it was of little consequence.

With key players coming back, the Vikings will still expect to give a good account of themselves in the play-offs next week.

Salford: Locke; Evalds, Sa'u, Griffin, Caton-Brown; Chase, Fages; Morley, Lee, Tasi, Hansen, Ashurst, Walne. Subs: Pueltua, Griffin, Tomkins, Walton.

Widnes: Owens; Flynn, Marsh, Phelps, Ah Van; Gilmore, Mellor; Kavanagh, White, Cahill, Leuluai, Dean, Isa. Subs: Clough, Carberry, Galea, Joseph.

Referee: J Child