Widnes Vikings 16 St Helens 14

A TRY 10 minutes from time from winger Patrick Ah Van snatched the spoils for Widnes against local rivals St Helens.

The final scoreline of 16-14 reflects the tough nature of a full-blooded encounter that was always in the balance.

In the end it was probably the Vikings goal-line defence that made the difference as they restricted Saints to just two tries.

Widnes made a late change with Stefan Marsh replacing Chris Bridge, who suffered a groin injury in the warm-up, at right centre.

Bridge's late withdrawal aside, the Vikings backline probably looked something like the one head coach Denis Betts had in mind at the start of the season.

Widnes exerted the early pressure and Corey Thompson went close but was bundled into touch by opposite number Regan Grace.

The first try did finally come on 12 minutes when Rhys Hanbury's break and inside pass hit Saints back-rower Zeb Taia and bounced kindly for Joe Mellor to touch down with Tom Gilmore converting.

Saints hit back with almost their first real attack of the evening when Theo Fages bundled his way over from close range.

The Vikings were soon back on attack and quick hands gave Ah Van a chance on the left and he finished with some aplomb at the corner. Gilmore's fine goal made it 12-6.

Another chance came as Charly Runciman broke clear but the attack fizzled out on the back of a handling error.

With the final play of the half, Saints scrum-half Matty Smith forced his way in to level things up at 12-12 against the run of play.

Saints took the lead for the first time early in the second half when Mark Percival slotted over a simple penalty and it was beginning to look like the visitors were getting the upper hand.

Time and again they pounded on the Widnes line but were met by heroic defence.

It took the Vikings a long time to re-establish a foothold in Saints territory but they gradually worked their way back into the game.

With 10 minutes to go, from a familiar move to Widnes fans, Ah Van tore onto a drop-off 10 metres out and was simply unstoppable as he gave his side the lead.

The latter stages saw Saints desperately trying to salvage a result but Widnes managed the game well and were in no mood to give up only their second win of the season.

Widnes: Hanbury; Thompson, Marsh, Runciman, Ah Van; Mellor, Gilmore; Dudson, Johnstone, Buchanan, Houston, Dean, Gerrard. Subs: Whitley, Burke, J Chapelhow, D Walker.

St Helens: Bailey; Swift, Fleming, Percival, Grace; Fages, Smith; Richards, Lee, Amor, Taia, Wilkin, Thompson. Subs: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Walmsley, Peyroux, Knowles.

Half-Time: 12-12

Referee: C Kendall

Attendance: 6,171