WIDNES VIKINGS 64
WIGAN ST JUDES 12
By Dave Parkinson
Widnes Vikings secured a home draw against French team FC Lezignan with an eventually overwhelming victory over amateurs Wigan St Judes. The visitors however, can take a lot of credit for the work they put in with Paul Pendlebury, Gavin Corfield, Darley King, Nathan Jones, Dave Picton, Dean and Glen Hunt and Tye Ford impressing at various times of a spirited display from the National Conference League side.
The Vikings had good contributions from Shane Grady, Paddy Flynn, halfbacks Anthony Thackeray and Thomas Coyle while Gareth Haggerty, Richard Varkulis and Dave Allen had their moments. Danny Hulme also impressed with a two try debut, cheered on by dad David, a Widnes legend in his playing days.
St Judes opened confidently, linking passages of play together and making metres with ease and after Picton missed a fifth minute penalty, the Wigan side again went on attack with Dean Hunt working play left for the dangerous Corfield who was then able to smuggle the ball from the tackle which allowed the supporting Glen Hunt to dash over at the side of the posts. This time Picton converted and at 6-0 there were calls from the St Judes fans to finish the game at that point.
Sadly for them there were 73 minutes left and although it took a little time, Widnes found their feet in the game. Matt Gardner made a strong 50 metre burst upfield which brought a stunning one on one tackle from Pendlebury. A couple of tackles later Allen held off two tacklers to score and although Grady missed the goal he was on song in the 19th minute when the Vikings turned back to back possession into points despite some good work in defence again from Pendlebury. It was Anthony Thackeray that went over and three further tries signalled a devastating 12 minute spell of play when St Judes rarely touched the ball.
Haggerty split the defence for Lee Doran to race around the fullback from 40 metres and he was quickly followed over the line by Scott Yates and Dave Houghton as 10-6 became 26-6 at half-time, while it could have been worse for the visitors if Thomas Coyle's pass for Matt Gardner had not been judged forward.
Even the most optimistic St Judes fan must have been fearing the worst when within a minute Hulme had sent Grady charging 25 metres for a try but the plucky visitors scored an excellent effort of their own within three minutes when the ball was firstly kicked across field by Picton before Jones and King twice combined on the right for King to eventually score. Picton then goaled from the touch line before Hulme scurried over for his first try after 48 minutes. Grady goaled and also added the extras to two more tries as first Richard Varkulis ran an excellent line from Thackeray's pass, then Hulme backed up after a four man move brought desperate and fine defence from Jones who slowed the move right down before a third offload found the Vikings youngster. At 42-12 the game was gone for Judes but they still had their moments with Hunt, Picton and John McMullen all trying to pull the strings in midfield while Pendlebury always looked capable of making a break if the Vikings defence switched off.
Thankfully for boss Paul Cullen the defence worked well while Thackeray created a carbon copy second try for Varkulis to take the score past 50 and spark another mini point glut at the end which the Wigan amateurs didn't really deserve. A short ball saw Allen cross for his second before the Vikings 12th and final try was again created by Thackeray with Coyle carving through the defence on the angle for Grady to kick his 8th goal and 20th point of the evening.
Widnes: Scott Yates, Paddy Flynn, Dean Thompson, Shane Grady, Matt Gardner; Anthony Thackeray, Thomas Coyle; Gareth Haggerty, Mark Smith, Lee Doran, Richard Varkulis, Matt Strong, Dave Allen.
Subs: Ben Kavanagh, Chris Gerard, Danny Hulme, Dave Houghton.
Tries: Allen 2 (13, 71), Thackeray (19), Doran (21), Yates (26), Houghton (31), Grady (41), Hulme 2 (48, 59), Varkulis 2 (55, 69), Coyle (75).
Goals: Grady 8/12.
Wigan St Judes: Paul Pendlebury, Ryan Ainscough, Gavin Corfield, Darley King, Nathan Jones; Dave Picton, Dean Hunt; Martin Riley, Glen Hunt, Peter Cain, Lee Maiden, Darren Banks, Mark Whittaker. Subs: Kevin Howells, Danny Clayton, Tye Ford, John McMullen.
Tries: G. Hunt (7), King (44).
Goals: Picton 2/3.
Referee: Mr C Leatherbarrow.
Attendance: 1,622.
Scoring:
0-6; 4-6; 10-6; 16-6; 20-6; 26-6; 30-6; 30-12; 36-12; 42-12; 48-12; 52-12; 58-12; 64-12.
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