WIDNES fans may feel they had something of a reality check as they saw their side go down 38-12 to London Broncos at the DCBL Stadium.
Many people felt the Broncos may give a better indication of where the Vikings are at early in the season following handy wins over Oldham and Batley and the verdict has to be there is plenty of work to do.
Widnes boss Tim Sheens had the benefit of two Warrington Wolves players on dual registration in the shape of half-back Declan Patton and forward Leilani Latu who started on the bench.
Tongan Leilani Latu, who played for Vikings on dual registration after having joined Warrington Wolves from Gold Coast Titans. Pictures: Richard Walker
After a delayed start due to turnstile congestion, the Vikings took a tenth minute lead through a Jack Owens penalty but that was as good as it got in the first half.
London hit the front on 14 minutes after Owens lost the ball following a bomb from the visitors and on the next play Josh Walters forced his way over to make it 4-2.
Jack Owens with Dec Patton in support. Pictures: Richard Walker
Widnes appeared to have weathered a bit of a Broncos storm until a Patton pass was intercepted by flying winger Kieran Dixon who - not for the first time against the Vikings - raced 70 metres for a six-pointer.
Widnes were looking a little brittle defensively and the men from the capital increased their lead when half-back Matty Fozard ghosted over with Dixon’s goal making it 16-2.
Prop Pat Moran hits the deck. Pictures: Richard Walker
A brief period of pressure on the Broncos’ line came to nought and it was soon back to business as usual as Eloi Pelissier and Eddie Battye combined with the latter crossing to make it 22-6.
The visitors emphasised their first half superiority when Pelissier made it 26-2 just before the interval.
Widnes got their first try of the game on 46 minutes with Owens providing the key pass to get right winger Deon Cross over.
Deon Cross touches down for Widnes. Pictures: Richard Walker
London negated any possibility of a comeback with another interception try this time from Egodo to make it 32-6 with Dixon’s goal.
On 64 minutes, the Vikings proved they hadn’t given up the ghost when Owens jumped out of dummy-half and did well to get over for a self-converted try.
Jack Owens sets his sights on the try line. Pictures: Richard Walker
Sadly, there was no real hope of a comeback in the offing and with four minutes remaining a converted try from Cory Aston completed the scoring at 38-12.
Jake Spedding tries to kick ahead against London. Pictures: Richard Walker
Widnes: Owens; Cross, Spedding, Roby, Johnson; Patton, Smith; T Chapelhow, Tomkins, Moran, Wilde, Grady, Leuluai. Subs: Lyons, Edge, Farnworth, Latu.
London: Meadows; Dixon, Ogden, Armitage, Egodo; Fozard, Aston; Butler, Davis, Krasniqi, Walters, Curran, Battye. Subs: Hindmarsh, Norman, Pelissier, Williams.
Half-time: 2-26
Referee: J Smith
Attendance: 3,680
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