Vikings pay penalty

Jul 24 2008 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

VIKINGS fell just short of success in a match which would sadly typify their week, writes Paul Glynn.

Steve McCormack’s men will be disappointed not to have gone home from the Shay with full points after conceding a late equalising penalty to second-placed Halifax.

The Yorkshire hosts salvaged their unbeaten home record by the skin of their teeth.

Widnes began the game on the front foot with Matty Smith orchestrating things with both the boot and the ball, pushing Halifax back on to their own line.

Yet the visitors survived an early scare when, against the run of play, the imperious Ben Black jinked through the Vikings defence, only to be tripped by the outstretched leg of Ian Hardman.

The Widnes full-back was lucky not to be given his marching orders by referee Dave Merrick, who instead put the incident on report.

Hardman made the most of his good fortune almost immediately.

A strong run from deep saw him release speedy youngster Paddy Flynn to open the scoring and Steve Tyrer added the extras from under the sticks.

Hardman was in the thick of the action again soon after, holding up his opposite number Miles Greenwood on the line.

The introduction of the giant Halifax forward Frank Watene saw the home side build momentum with a couple of powerful bursts.

A high, cross-field bomb from stand-off Graham Holroyd was then missed by Flynn, allowing Mike Ratu to get the home side off the mark.

Holroyd converted to level at 6-6 and the Fax stand-off began to ask questions of the Vikings’ defence with a display of accurate and probing left-foot kicking.

But Widnes held strong, again riding their luck when James Haley’s touchdown was disallowed for an apparent forward pass.

Just before the break, Widnes capitalised on Holroyd’s solitary misplaced kick of the afternoon.

As he failed to find touch, the industrious Matty Smith danced his way over to score.

Tyrer again converted to see the Vikings take a well-earned, if slightly opportunistic, 12-6 first-half lead.

Widnes began the second half as they had finished the first.

Matty Strong, assisted by Smith, went over for a debut try, much to the annoyance of the home support who saw a knock-on in the build-up, and Tyrer converted.

Noone stretched Widnes’s lead after a nice change of direction and pass from stand-off John Duffy.

Tyrer again converted to make it 24-6 and seemingly secure a hard- fought victory.

However, Halifax, dragged themselves back into the contest courtesy of another delightful chip from Holroyd. It found the hands of Thomas Coyle, who went over.

Holroyd added the extras himself to reduce Vikings’ lead.

Coyle’s joy was shortlived, as he was sinbinned on the hour mark for a professional foul on Duffy, allowing Tyrer to keep up his 100% kicking record, from close range.

Vikings failed to capitalise on the man advantage and Widnes sub Ben Kavanagh soon joined Coyle in the sin bin.

The lively Ben Black took full advantage of the situation, speeding over for Fax, with Holroyd adding the extras.

As the Vikings began to tire, Fax sub Mark Gleeson powered through for a debut try, converted by Holroyd.

The Halifax number six continued his near-perfect afternoon with the boot by notching a last-minute penalty to complete a gutsy comeback.