Widnes Vikings 20 London Broncos 21

A JARROD Sammut drop-goal two minutes from full-time saw Widnes go down 21-20 to Championship side London Broncos at Halton Stadium.

The defeat, in the first game of the Super League Qualifiers, moves the Vikings a step closer to the relegation trapdoor.

Vikings head coach Francis Cummins gave a debut to New Zealander, Charlie Gubb, the former NZ Warriors and Canberra Raiders prop forward who started on the bench.

The pack was also bolstered by the return of experienced trio Aaron Heremaia, Chris Houston and Gil Dudson.

Olly Ashall-Bott came in at full-back for the injured Rhys Hanbury.

The first half turned out to be something of a war of attrition.

Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances and were reluctant to chance their arm with ball-in-hand.

Left winger Charly Runciman crashed over but was pulled back for an obstruction in the build up and second row Chris Dean had a similar result when he looked set to cross.

In the end it took until the 31st minute to get the scoreboard ticking when concerted pressure saw Ashall-Bott dive in from close range. Krisnan Inu’s conversion made it 6-0.

Widnes had a chance to increase their advantage before the break but Ashall-Bott couldn’t find Runciman out wide.

The Broncos hit back early in the second half with a breakaway try finished off by prop Mark Ioane but Widnes steadied the ship with an Inu penalty.

The Vikings seemed to have taken control when Chris Dean ghosted over for a six-pointer to make it 14-4 but London had other ideas.

Daniel Harrison crossed to pull six points back and then Kieran Dixon went over wide out to level the scores at 14-14.

A disastrous looping pass from Liam Finn then gifted Dixon a 70 metre interception try with Sammut converting.

The Vikings got themselves back on level terms at 20-20 with five minutes remaining when Inu scrambled over from a Finn cross kick.

But Widnes hearts were broken when Sammut played his joker from 30 metres out.

Widnes: Ashall-Bott; Ah Van, Inu, Whitley, Runciman; Mellor, Finn; Houston, Heremaia, Dudson, Dean, Hansen, Hauraki. Subs: Walker, Leuluai, Olbison, Gubb.

London: Walker; Dixon, Hellewell, Kear, Williams; Pewhairangi, Cunningham; Battye, Pelissier, Evans, Pitts, Hindmarsh, Davis. Subs: Spencer, Ioane, Harrison, Sammut.

Half-time: 6-0

Referee: Liam Moore

Attendance: 3,432