Vikings’ first defeat proves Celtic’s pride

May 1 2008 by Ian Cheveau, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Widnes Vikings 14 Celtic Crusaders 16

THE Vikings’ unbeaten start to the new Co-operative National League One was left in tatters as Celtic Crusaders pulled off an excellent and hard-fought victory to take all three points back to Bridgend.

A dejected Widnes head coach Steve McCormack was ruing the Vikings’ failure to convert the host of golden opportunities they had to cross the whitewash and he slammed his team’s poor first-half display.

He said: “I think we got what we deserved in the end.

“If you keep giving teams a head start, it’s always going to be hard to claw it back.

“Our first-half performance was very disappointing and the second half was only marginally better.

“It’s not a major setback for us but we must rectify our mistakes in time for the Dewsbury game.

“They are a very tough side and there is no easy game in this division for anybody.”

The difference between the two sides was probably Celtic’s impressive Aussie scrum-half Jace Van Dijk.

The former Brisbane man kicked the Vikings to death.

He marched his side around the park beautifully and had a hand in all three of the Crusaders’ scores.

His kicking game was immaculate and with Widnes simply not putting him under enough pressure, he was able to put the ball on a sixpence in dire conditions.

This caused Widnes, and particularly full-back Scott Yates, problems.

The only real positive from Widnes’ perspective was the performance of back-rower Tommy Gallagher.

The ex-Hull KR and Toulouse man was in sparkling form and McCormack admitted the player didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.

He said: “Tommy has had a top game for us again.

“I thought he was great and if we’d have pushed up with him a bit more, we might have got something.”

Celtic handled the conditions better than Widnes and settled the quicker to get over after only two minutes as Mark Dalle Court touched down on the left.

When Van Dijk noticed Yates was uncomfortable under the high ball, the youngster was peppered for the remainder of the half.

As the ball slipped from the full-back’s grasp on 16 minutes, the Vikings were under tremendous pressure and Gareth Dean soon bulldozed through Yates for Crusaders’ second try.

Mark Lennon converted to the delight of Celtic’s small band of supporters.

Yates temporarily redeemed himself as McCormack switched him to the wing. He slid over on the 20-minute mark.

But, just before the interval, Van Dijk’s crossfield kick was gobbled up by Anthony Blackwood after a terrible misjudgement from Widnes’ Jason Crookes and Dean Gaskell.

Bob Beswick put Widnes back in contention with a solo effort (53) and Lee Paterson gave the Vikings a chance of levelling the scores seven minutes from time.

But Gavin Dodd’s attempted conversion struck an upright and it stayed 14-16 despite Vikings throwing everything at the heroic Crusaders defence.

Celtic head coach John Dixon said: “The last sixty seconds seemed like half and hour.

“We put in a very gutsy performance. Widnes are the inform team and we are delighted to come here and get a win.

“The try before half-time gave us a 12-point buffer and that was a big play for us.”