Ram raid is a success as Vikings steal vital points

May 8 2008 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

A LATE drop goal from Vikings pivot Bob Beswick was enough to seal victory and pull the team away from the bottom of The Co-operative National League One table.

Beswick’s one-pointer extinguished any hopes Dewsbury had of sneaking a victory after mounting a decent second-half fightback on Tuesday night.

The 40-yard drop goal was worth its weight in gold but Mark Smith’s last-gasp try-saving tackle in the dying minutes was also a huge play for the Vikings.

Lowly Dewsbury’s ex-Widnes half-back Dean Lawford looked a certain scorer when he backed up a break which would have brought his side level.

But inspirational skipper Smith produced a copybook tackle to deny the scrum-half.

McCormack paid tribute to talented Beswick for coming up with the play that ultimately gave Vikings the breathing space they needed.

He said: ‘It was important that we came back with a victory after our performance against Celtic Crusaders.

“Dewsbury is never an easy place to go and get a win and their place in the table doesn’t really show how good a team they are.

“They pushed us and Bob has come up with the drop goal that has given us the buffer we needed. Overall, I’m delighted to take the three points away tonight and now the focus turns to Hull FC on Sunday.”

The Vikings will need to improve somewhat if they harbour any desire to progress in the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Their usual watertight defence burst its banks slightly and any repeat would haunt them on Sunday as Hull look to get a reaction following their weekend defeat to Hull KR at Millennium Magic in Cardiff.

Andrew Bostock opened the scoring for the Rams but Widnes new boy Rchard Fletcher hit back for the Vikings, barging over from close range.

Lawford, the ex-Leeds, Halifax and Batley number seven, was in fine form against his old club and it wasn’t long before he sent in Bostock for his second as the Rams took control.

But Widnes hit back through Ben Kavanagh and then burst into the lead with a four-pointer by Jim Gannon.

Widnes began to turn the screw when winger Sam Barlow, on debut, crossed after 36 minutes.

At 24-12, McCormack’s men were in full control but they took their foot off the gas a little and let the Rams come back at them.

Bostock flew over for his hat-trick score and that gave the Rams a flicker of hope.

Danny Hill came back for Widnes but dropped the ball over the line yet Gavin Dodd made one stick on 55 minutes.

Lawford responded to put the Vikings on the edge.

The Rams could have sneaked it late on but Beswick’s timely one-pointer knocked the stuffing out of Dewsbury and that was enough on the back of Dodd’s four conversions.