Paddy Flynn scores first try at Langtree Park (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Paddy Flynn scores first try at Langtree Park

9:04pm Friday 20th January 2012 in Vikings Match Reports

FORMER Thatto Heath and Haresfinch winger Paddy Flynn earned the honour of scoring the first try at Langtree Park.

The Widnes flankman has scored twice as Vikings went in 20-18 up at the break.

A packed crowd shuffled in before kick off – with some fans having to displaced from a chocker west stand.

Saints started slowly and showed some defensive frailty. That was exploited on 11 minutes when Flynn rounded opposing wingman Jamie Foster in a tight space before cutting inside full back Tommy Makinson to score, showing his clear delight afterwards.

Patrick Ah Van missed the goal from the touchline, but Vikings doubled their lead when Wiganer Stefan Marsh sliced through some slack home defence to touch down. Ah Van goaledto make it 10-0.

Saints bucked their ideas up, led by a thundering tackle from Sia Soliola on Anthony Watts.

On 19 minutes Soliola ran a great angle to crash through from Lance Hohaia’s pass to open Saints’ account, with Foster goaling.

Saints edged in front when James Roby broke, backed up by Makinson for Francis Meli to storm over. Foster’s conversion put Saints in front for the first time on 24 minutes.

That lead lasted just two minutes when Rhys Hanbury stepped out of a poor tackle to romp in from 20 metres.

The tit for tat scoring continued, with Nathan Ashe touching down a Hohaia grubber with his first touch of the ball, Foster goaling.

But determined Vikings had the last word of the half when a wonderful passage of play from Watts, who regathered his own kick before sliding the ball wide, resulting in Flynn’s second.

Ah Van goaled to make it 20-18 to the visitors at the break.

Saints: Makinson; Gardner, Wheeler, Meli, Foster; Lomax, Hohaia; Laffranchi, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin, Soliola, Flanagan. Subs: Perry, Flannery, Clough, Magennis, Dixon, Gaskell, Ashe.

Widnes: Briscoe; Flynn, Marsh, Isa, Ah Van; Watts, Hanbury; Cross, Moore, Davies, Winterstein, Allen, Clarke. Subs: Dean, White, Kavanagh, Pickersgill, Leuluai, Haggerty, Craven, Mullally.