SAINTS came back from a 14-6 half time deficit to take the spoils at Widnes.

But the game, which was pretty turgid in the first half, quickly turned the way of the champions immediately after the restart.

Widnes and Saints went into the game short of injured key players – so there was an element of re-adjusting in both sides.

Widnes drew first blood five minutes into the game after back-to-back penalties had taken them to the Saints line.

Smart dummy half play from Aaron Heremaia created the chance for big prop Eamon O’Carroll to launch himself over the whitewash.

Danny Tickle added the extras to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead.

Saints responded, with big men Atelea Vea and Alex Walmsley driving it in with some purpose.

The Vikings defence was able to smartly harness Walmsley’s own momentum to force the big prop into touch in goal and foil the champions.

Saints had a lucky escape when Jon Wilkin, continuing at seven in the extended absence of Luke Walsh, saw his last tackle kick charged down.

The advancing Vikings chasers were just about foiled in the follow through, however the home crowd yelled obstruction.

The game continued as something of an arm wrestle but after a Saints penalty, then a repeat set from a ricochet Lance Hohaia walked in from dummy half.

A Patrick Ah Van try in the corner, from a wonderful Joe Mellor pass, followed by a Stefan Marsh conversion and penalty put the hosts up 14-6 at the break.

Saints cme out with more purpose in the second half, and following a Wilkin kick wide fumbled by Ah Van the outstanding Atelea Vea pounced for a deserved touchdown.

Travis Burns kicked the goal to cut the deficit to two points, and the wily Australian began to pull the Saints strings with a shrewd kicking game.

They forced two goal line drop outs, and the pressure finally told when Luke Thompson showed good strength to keep his legs pumping to get over the whitewash.

Vikings could not stop the Saints momentum, and although a storming run upfield from Vea was halted, when the ball was shifted left in the next play there was no stopping Jordan Turner.

A Burns 40/20 kept Saints in the driving seat, with Hohaia showing good strength to find his way over the line from acting half.

Burns’goal made it 30-14.

Danny Craven raced 60 metres after picking up a loose ball, but managed to impersonate Devon Loch with the line begging.

Saints’ defence regrouped and kept out the subsequent Viking raid.

By the time Aaron Heremaia backed up Ah Van’s run up the left to score Vikings’ first of the second half it was too late to make a difference.

Saints held on to win 30-20 to move back to the top of the table.