WIDNES became the first team since June 2014 to lower Wigan's colours in Super League at the DW Stadium.

In a thrilling fightback Denis Betts' men came from 8-0 then 12-6 down to take the spoils in front of an ecstatic away following.

The small matter of staying at the top of the First Utility Super League table seemed almost insignificant.

Hooker Lloyd White was a late withdrawal for Widnes with Aaron Heremaia starting at dummy-half and coach Denis Betts opted for two out-and-out props on the bench in the shape of Alex Gerrard and Manase Manuokafoa alongside Matt Whitley and Macgraff Leuluai.

The opening stages were nip and tuck.

Winger Corey Thompson's break for Widnes was matched by opposite number Dom Manfredi's for Wigan as both sides tested each other out.

It took until 17 minutes in for the first try to come. Joe Mellor's ill-advised offload was intercepted by Wigan second-rower Liam Farrell who raced 80 metres to give his side a 4-0 lead.

Both sides were tackling for their lives with nothing to choose between them.

Matt Whitley and Mellor combined up the middle and the only thing that stopped Chris Dean scoring off the latter's kick to the corner was his inability to keep his footing on the slippery surface.

Kevin Brown and Chris Houston both went close for Widnes before the home side broke out for their second score. This time it was Dan Sarginson's flat pass that outflanked the Vikings defence to put Josh Charnley over at the left corner.

It proved to be the last meaningful action of the first half with the Warriors going in to the dressing rooms 8-0 up.

Mellor thought he'd pulled a try back on 43 minutes but after a lengthy deliberation the video referee ruled offside.

Just two minutes later, the Vikings scored a legitimate try when smart handling saw Mellor put Whitley over from close range with Rhys Hanbury converting.

Josh Charnley had a try disallowed for Wigan after Widnes had given up cheap possession from the restart so the score remained 8-6.

Thompson went close to latching onto a Brown kick into the in-goal but then failed to deal with a bomb at the other end and Charnley raced over to give the Warriors a six-point cushion with 26 minutes remaining.

On the hour mark, quick hands from Brown, Hanbury and Charly Runciman put ex-Warrior Marsh over wide out to make it 12-10.

Almost immediately Widnes hit the front when Runciman backed up Hanbury's searing break to finish of a 60 metre move with a six-pointer.

Hanbury added a penalty goal to make it 18-12 in Widnes's favour.

The closing stages saw heroic defence from every Widnes player and they held out for a memorable win.

v9 7 Wigan: Sarginson; Manfredi, Gelling, Gildart, Charnley; O'Loughlin, Smith; Clubb, Powell, Flower, Farrell, Bateman, Tautai. Subs: Mossop, Sutton, Burke, Gregson.

Widnes: Hanbury; Thompson, Dean, Runciman, Marsh; Mellor, Brown; O'Carroll, Heremaia, Dudson, Sa, Houston, Cahill. Subs: Whitley, Leuluai, Gerrard, Manuokafoa.

Half-time: 8-0 Referee: R Silverwood Attendance: 11,775