12:50pm Thursday 1st July 2010
By Mike Critchley
VIKINGS travel up to west Cumbria on Thursday evening looking to put an end to a losing run in the Championship that now stretches to five matches.
After narrowly losing to leaders Featherstone on Sunday, Vikings have slipped out of the top six - with ambitious French side Toulouse coming up on the rails.
So Vikings will need to produce some of their second half form for the full 80 minutes up at relegation threatened Whitehaven in tomorrow’s televised tie if they are to arrest this worrying trend.
Although in that period of defeats Vikings have notched two victories in the Northern Rail Cup to secure a passage to Blackpool - a study of the league results paints a gloomy picture.
Assistant coach Stuart Wilkinson said: “When we get our act together we are a good team.
“We will go to Whitehaven on Thursday with every intention to win but we have to start looking at the small details and not get too distracted by the big picture and outcomes.
“If we do the tiny things better and concentrate for 80 minutes the scoreboard will take care of itself.”
With all the talk in the town currently being around another trip to Blackpool, the coaching staff are aware of the potential distraction this focus has caused.
Wilkinson said: “One of our focuses was to get some momentum in the cup and we created that climate in training and it had a good effect.
“But it may have taken something away from the other stuff we do and our form in the league has put us under pressure.”
Vikings are currently seventh, with Super League wannabes Toulouse leap-frogging them at the weekend.
Toulouse are considered dark horses for a tilt at Super League - but they would need to secure a Grand Final spot to acquire the necessary tick.
However, Wilkinson is not getting too sidetracked by that and the squad will be redoubling their efforts in training this week - addressing areas like discipline and the kick-chase.
Last week Vikings snapped up Kurt Haggerty from Blackpool and he played at Featherstone on Sunday.
Wilkinson was delighted with the input from the former Saints junior.
“Kurt was great and played longer than we expected and given that was after one training session he did really well.
“His lines are good and he is a strong defender and is just what we are looking for Vikings,” he said.
n Vikings have already sold more than 3,200 tickets for the Northern Rail Cup Final at Blackpool.
Tickets will remain on sale at the stadium clubroom window throughout the week.
n Widnes head coach Paul Cullen has been granted compassionate leave, as required, by the club as he looks after his wife, Chris, who is currently receiving treatment for cancer.
Stuart Wilkinson and Mick Cassidy will take charge of first team matters, starting with Thursday's visit to Whitehaven.
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