WINGER Stefan Marsh crossed for a hat-trick of tries as the Widnes cruised to a 48-12 win over Sheffield Eagles in the Middle 8 Qualifiers.

The Vikings tally of ten tries is a fair representation of the difference in class between the sides and coach Denis Betts will hope the fact his three goalkickers only managed four goals between them won't matter for much in the final analysis.

Fair play to the visitors who were game throughout but with man-of-the-match Joe Mellor and skipper Kevin Brown pulling the strings in midfield, they frequently fouind themselves chasing shadows.

The opening exchanges saw both sides spurn chances with the visitors, if anything, having slightly the better of things.

Against the run of play, Widnes opened the scoring on nine minutes when Mellor cut through on last tackle before drawing Eagles fullback Quentin Laulu-Togagae and putting Brown over for a try converted by Danny Tickle.

The Vikings lost back-rower Macgraff Leuluai to a serious leg injury after a heavy collision but his replacement Willie Isa quickly made his presence felt.

A typical Brown long pass ouflanked the Sheffield defence and allowed Marsh to cross for his side's second try on nineteen minutes.

Just two tackles after the restart Marsh struck again, this time racing 80 metres from another Brown pass and side-stepping Laulu-Togagae to score at the posts.

Denis Betts' men were now looking comfortable and their fourth try of the afternoon came when Brown sent Isa racing away and he in turn found centre Charly Runciman who scored his first try at the Select Security Stadium to make it 20-0.

It soon became 24-0 when Mellor shrugged off a tackle before finding Rhys Hanbury in support to supply the finish.

Five minutes before the break a superb short ball from Brown sent Danny Galea coasting in from 20 metres with Lloyd White's goal taking Widnes to the thirty mark.

As if to prove they hadn't given up the ghost, on the stroke of half-time the Eagles pulled six points back through a Scott Turner try superbly goaled by Pat Walker.

A ball steal on Hanbury offered Sheffield an early opportunity in the second half but when Menzie Yere spilled the ball on the subsequent play, Mellor scooped up the pill and ran 90 metres to score an opportunist try.

A long break in play following an injury to Eagles prop Steve Thorpe seemed to suck some energy out of the game but on 54 minutes Widnes increased their lead when Paddy Flynn showed great determination to muscle his way over past several flailing defenders.

Mellor went close to enhancing his side's lead but it was the visitors who registered next when Keal Carlile tricked his way in from dummy-half to make it 40-12, and almost immediately a fine break by Corey Aston saw him hauled down inches short by the ultra-keen Mellor.

The last fifteen minutes offered little in the way of smart rugby with both sides playing fast and loose with possession, but Marsh took the opportunity to race in for his hat-trick try from 30 metres and Runciman rounded things off from a Marsh inside ball.

The Vikings can probably play a lot better, but top of The Qualifiers after two rounds will do nicely for now.

Widnes: Hanbury; Flynn, Dean, Runciman, Marsh; Brown, Mellor; Gerrard, White, Dudson, Tickle, Galea, Leuluai. Subs: Heremaia, Isa, Whitley, Manuokafoa.

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae; Turner, Yere, Smeaton, Worrincy; Aston, Brambani; Thorpe, Carlile, Stringer, Knowles, Straugheir, Taulapapa. Subs: Davy, Battye, Walker, Tonks.

Half-Time: 34-6 Referee: J Child ..

Attendance: 4,567.