WIDNES Vikings have claimed the Karalius Cup and the local derby bragging rights, narrowly beating St Helens 20-16 at a cold Langtree Park, writes Tom Byrne.

The Vikings struck first when after some decent field position on the Saints’ twenty metre line, fast hands from Rhys Hanbury and Stefan Marsh finding the waiting arms Paddy Flynn on the right flank. Danny Tickle was unable to add the extras, 0-4 after three minutes.

The teams were deadlocked for the following twenty minutes, until the Vikings conceded back-to-back penalties, allowing the hosts into the game. Joe Greenwood burst through the line from close range and with Tommy Makinson’s goal from next to the posts, St Helens took the lead.

A classy cut-out pass from Hanbury sent Patrick Ah Van diving spectacularly in at the corner with five minutes left in the first half. The touchline conversion attempt from Marsh skewed wide, the score 6-8 to the Vikings at the break.

Controversy struck ten minutes into the second half, Saints’ Jon Wilkin throwing a punch after taking exception to a Manase Manuakafoa charge down, with the ensuing fisticuffs leading to a sinbinning for MacGraff Leuluai.

The man advantage paid dividends for the Saints, with Adam Swift winning the footrace from 20 metres out and scoring in the corner only moments later. Dave Hewitt’s conversion attempt hit the post, and Saints regained their two point lead.

Momentum began to shift, and a Vikings mistake soon after the restart left them camped on their own line, James Roby barging around the would-be tackles and extending Saints’ lead. Hewitt this time successful, 16-8.

The Vikings kept at it though, and a good pass from Matt Whitley on the right side sending fellow youngster Dec Hulme in for the try. Danny Craven kicking the goal, and the arrears reduced to two.

This shook Saints, who then kicked the restart out on the full. The resulting field position led to a carbon-copy try by Hulme once more, with the Craven kick giving the Vikings a 16-20 lead from nowhere with less than 5 to play.

This is how things stayed, and with the Vikings’ final pre-season game against Castleford Tigers fast approaching, the result is bound to buoy Denis Betts’ for the test.