Widnes 14 Wakefield 32 - opening night defeat for Vikings (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Widnes 14 Wakefield 32 - opening night defeat for Vikings

10:20pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Vikings news By Mike Critchley

THREE second half tries in ten minutes consigned Vikings to an opening day defeat against Wakefield Trinity.

Vikings led 10-4 at the break and then 14-10 up until the hour mark but fell away badly in the last quarter.

The visitors added two tries through wing Peter Fox while the Vikings were down to 12 men following the sin-binning of Ben Cross.

It was a disappointing end for Vikings, who showed some nice touches and no little enthusiasm in on their opening night.

But they were left to rue a failure to find a ruthless edge close to the line and really missed another half back in Anthony Watts’ absence– and can feel hard done to by having two tries chalked off by the video ref.

Back in the top flight after a six season absence, Vikings went into the game without vice captain Shaun Briscoe, half back Watts and speedster Paddy Flynn.

And there were times when they missed the presence of Watts close to the line when Vikings struggled to penetrate the line despite a mountain of possession.

Wakefield, with former Leeds heavyweight Ali Lauitiiti making his presence felt, started the brightest and they very nearly crossed after just two minutes only for Ben Cockayne to be dragged in at the corner.

Vikings bounced back – and five minutes later Danny Craven had the speed of thought to dab a kick through and get to it first to open their Super League account after seven minutes.

Patrick Ah Van slotted the extras and after a crunching tackle from Hep Cahill had dislodged the ball from Cockayne Vikings enjoyed a strong spell of pressure on the Wakefield line.

However, they could not penetrate and when they did they bombed what looked like a certain try when the final pass to Ah Van went to his bootstraps.

Trinity soaked it up and then countered with Lauitiiti taking a peach of a pass to steam through a hole.

Isaac John missed the goal.

Wakefield, at this stage, were looking more threatening, particularly Lauitiiti who burst through again, but this time the chance went begging.

Widnes had other opportunities to camp out on the line, but with no way through opted to kick to the corner.

They were unlucky to have Frank Winterstein’s effort chalked off by the video ref after numerous looks.

But with Ah Van’s clearance getting them on the front foot, Vikings got another crack.

Andy Raleigh’s knock on two minutes before the end with Winterstein getting the ball out of the tackle for Willie Isa to send Ah Van in at the corner.

Wakefield started the second half with a try after two minutes when Raleight touched down Tim Smith’s grubber, with Isaac John goaling to level it.

Vikings had another try chalked off by the video ref when Willie Isa slid over from a kick, only for Ah Van to be penalised for obstruction.

Vikings did, however, nudge back in front when Hep Cahill charged down a Kyle Wood kick and storm in from half way.

But then the game fell away from Widnes and a 61st minute try from Richie Mathers signalled the start of the collapse.

Smith stepped through four minutes later and then after Cross was sin-binned Peter Fox slipped over twice in the corner to give the visitors a big winning margin.

Line-ups: Widnes: Danny Craven; Chris Dean, Stefan Marsh, Willie Isa, Patrick Ah Van; Jon Clarke, Rhys Hanbury; Ben Cross, Scott Moore, Ben Kavanagh, Frank Winterstein, Dave Allen, Hep Cahill. Subs: Lloyd White, Steve Pickersgill, Kurt Haggerty, Anthony Mullally.

Wakefield: Richie Mathers; Peter Fox, Dean Collois, Vince Mellars, Ben Cockayne; Isaac John, Tim Smith; Kyle Amor, Paul Aiton, Steve Southern, Ali Lauitiiti, Danny Kirmond, Danny Washbrook. Subs: Kyle Wood, Oliver Wilkes, Andy Raleigh, Paul Johnson.

Ref: Ben Thaler.

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