WIDNES Vikings are putting pressure on the sides they are chasing for a top-six spot thanks to a third successive win.
Allan Coleman’s men leapt Barrow Raiders into eighth place thanks to beating them in Cumbria yesterday, 20-14.
Jake Maizen, Matty Fozard, Joe Edge and Nick Gregson scored tries that completed Vikings’ second-half revival, after trailing 8-0 at half-time.
All of this means that the Black and Whites are three points behind the side currently holding the last play-offs place, Halifax Panthers, with a game in hand
Vikings, two points behind Doncaster, can also reduce the gap to two points on fifth-placed Featherstone Rovers if they can go there and win in their next outing on Saturday, kick-off 6pm.
A bruising first 40 minutes saw Barrow edge ahead, Brad Walker opening the scoring with a penalty goal after a high tackle.
Ten minutes before the break, Tee Ritson forced his way over out wide to extend Raiders’ advantage to 8-0 at half-time.
Vikings struck back quickly after the restart through the returning Maizen, who powered through a gap in the defence for a crucial try.
Hooker Fozard was twice denied close to the line, but persistence paid off as he eventually dived over from close range to give his side the lead.
That advantage would be quickly extended as Edge took a Barrow kick on his line before racing the length of the field for his second try in consecutive games.
Vikings sealed the win with five minutes remaining as another break from Edge allowed Gregson to race in for his first try of the season to extend the lead to 12.
Barrow responded late on through Joe Bullock but it proved only a consolation.
Widnes Vikings: Maizen; Edge, Owens, Fleming, Bennison; W Roberts, Gilmore; Murray, Johnstone, McWhirter, M Roberts, Condon, Gregson. Subs: Fozard, Lawton, Hall, Bibby. 18th man: Bennion
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