THEY say if the opposition don't score, you can't lose.

That old saying seems appropriate after Widnes toppled Halifax 14-0 to open their Super 8s account with a win with new boy Charly Runciman crossing for a brace.

But the truth is the Championship side gave their all and the Vikings could only be sure of taking the spoils when prop Alex Gerrard rumbled over in the 77th minute to give his side a two score cushion after a scoreless first half.

Vikings coach Denis Betts brought Kevin Brown, Danny Tickle and Lloyd White back into his 17 after injury.

Runciman was selected to make his debut at left centre and Stefan Marsh was switched to the wing with Paddy Flynn missing out.

Runciman made a half-break with his first touch in Widnes colours as his side laid siege to the home line in the early stages.

The Fax defence was super keen and it needed to be as they lost the ball early in the tackle-count time and again.

Despite their territorial dominance, the Vikings lacked a killer touch and occasionally the necessary composure to unlock the underdogs' defence.

Halifax's only break of the first half came on 13 minutes when Marsh was required to effect a try-saving cover tackle on Jacob Fairbank.

Unfortunately, Marsh held on too long in the tackle and earned himself a trip to the sin-bin.

It made little difference to the general flow of the match as Widnes continued to press but time and again the Fax defenders turned up to shut every move down.

Twice Widnes found themselves over the opposition line but the tries were correctly ruled out for offside and a forward pass respectively.

It was undoubtedly the home supporters who were feeling more chipper as the teams trudged off at half-time locked at 0-0.

The second period began in similar vein to the first with the Vikings enjoying a good slice of the ball.

The dam finally broke on 48 minutes when Fax failed to deal with a Brown bomb and the ball was shipped out wide for Runciman to cross to make it 4-0.

Marsh had a score disallowed for a double-movement but the home side began to find a second wind.

It was Widnes's turn to defend heroically and they managed, just, to keep Fax out.

Gerrard's short range score effectively ended the argument and in in the last minute, Runciman finished off a Danny Galea break.

Two points - the hard way!

Halifax: Johnston; Saltonstall, Heaton, Tyrer, Saxton; Robinson, Murrell; Tangata, Kaye, Cahalane, Moore, Manning, Fairbank. Subs: Ambler, Bracek, Maneely, Barber.

Widnes: Hanbury; Marsh, Dean, Runciman, Ah Van; Brown, Mellor; Gerrard, Heremaia, Dudson, Clarkson, Galea, Isa. Subs: White, Cahill, Tickle, Manuokafoa.

Half-Time: 0-0 Referee: R Hicks Attendance: 3,022