Widnes Vikings: Easter Monday victory over Co-operative Championship rivals Doncaster at Keepmoat Stadium cheers head coach Cullen

Apr 14 2009 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

A MUCH-IMPROVED Widnes Vikings side secured victory at the Keepmoat Stadium on Easter Monday, defeating Doncaster 24-18.

Head coach Paul Cullen said: “I thought our direction for the majority of the game was great and we worked hard to score 24 unanswered points.

“However, for a ten-minute period, we were a little bit rash and have to learn not to do things we don't have to.

“We bombed a few chances and missed a couple of goal kicks which should have given us a more comfortable victory.”

He added: “I thought our senior players led the way tonight and I was pleased with the way our youngsters acquitted themselves.”

The visitors had opened the scoring. Good work from the versatile Loz Wildbore, who replaced the injured John Duffy at loose forward, youngster Josh Simm and Gavin Dodd allowed re-instated full-back Scott Yates to touch down.

Dodd missed the conversion but strong-running winger Paddy Flynn and second row Lee Doran put Widnes back on the front foot.

An inside pass from Yates sent Dodd over for an unconverted try and soon after, substitute Sam Thompson crossed under the posts, allowing Yates to add the extras.

Stand-off Anthony Thackeray combined well with Shane Grady to score before Yates added another goal to stretch Widnes’s lead to 20-0 at the break.

The Vikings increased this two minutes into the second half when Flynn broke clear from inside his own half before being tackled close to the Doncaster try line.

A quick play-the-ball saw Thackeray send Doran over for an unconverted try before Danny Mills came off the bench to make his competitive debut for the club

Luke May pulled a try back for the home side, with Paul Handforth converting from the touchline.

Doncaster notched their second try on the hour as Handforth created space for Josh Weeden to go over.

Handforth added the extras, before notching a further try and conversion.

Widnes then resumed their attacking play and James Webster's drop goal attempt from 35m bounced back off the crossbar.

Widnes Vikings: Yates; Flynn, Varkulis, Dodd, Gaskell; Thackeray, Webster; Ostick, Smith, Gannon, Simm, Doran, Wildbore. Subs: Mills, Kavanagh, Thompson, Grady.

Attendance 831.