Briscoe inspires Widnes to beat Hull 42-16 (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Shaun Briscoe inspires Widnes to beat Hull 42-16

9:36am Sunday 19th August 2012 in Vikings news

WIDNES gave themselves a great chance of avoiding the wooden spoon with a thumping win over top end side Hull at Stobart Stadium.

Denis Betts’ men came from behind to produce some sparkling football to ease away in the second half.

Vikings welcomed back full-back Shaun Briscoe after another lengthy spell on the sidelines and he provided just the spark that was needed against one of his former clubs.

He grabbed two tries and was important in defence as Vikings wore the top-four chasing visitors down.

After showing signs of a tired performance last week – due to injury – Vikings were forced to omit Patrick Ah Van, Ben Cross, Steve Pickersgill and Chris Dean but the bonus ball was the return of skipper Jon Clarke and Briscoe from injury and Paul McShane from suspension. Ben Kavanagh also came back after missing six months with a torn Achilles tendon.

Hull struck after seven minutes when Brett Seymour and Ryan McGoldrick worked to put St Helens-bound Jordan Turner in.

Willie Isa’s try in response was chalked off by the video referee but there was no stopping him on 13 minutes when he collected Shaun Briscoe's after a kick to touch down in the corner.

Briscoe then put Paddy Flynn in to give Vikings an 8-4 lead, which did not last long until Joe Westerman responded.

Briscoe reacted quickest to the impressive Rhys Hanbury's kick goaled by Danny Craven to nudge Vikings four points up and when Frank Winterstein scored from another kick on the last tackle to make it 20-10 at the break.

The Vikings tightened their grip after the break when Craven cashed in on a Willie Manu lost ball to hack forward to stretch the lead to 14 points.

Then a superb try from the Vikings had the crowd on their feet with Isa polishing off his second after a sublime Hanbury inside ball. McShane kicked the goal and Vikings looked home and dry.

But they still had to make sure and Aaron Heremaia poached Hull's third try approaching the hour mark to leave Vikings with work still to do at 30-16.

But they were helped by some sloppy and careless play from the visitors and so when Vikings full back Briscoe grabbed his second from another neat pass from the outstanding Hanbury Vikings could breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the last eight minutes.

Hanbury, who showed no ill-effects from a Ryan McGoldrick high tackle, dashed in at the end to apply the icing to the cake.

Although London have hit a purple patch, Castleford’s nosedive in form means all three clubs are locked on 12 points at the foot of the table with two to go.

Widnes: Briscoe; Flynn, Marsh, Phelps, Isa; Craven, Hanbury; Kite, Clarke, Davies, Allen, Winterstein, Cahill. Subs: Kavanagh, Haggerty, Gerrard, McShane.

Hull: Briscoe; Lineham, Turner, Crooks, Foster; McGoldrick, Seymour; Watts, Houghton, Lynch, Manu, Westerman, Pitts. Subs: Horne, O’Meley, Heremaia, Aspinwall.