Widnes Vikings: Vikings beat York City Knights to secure Northern Rail Cup semi-final place

Jun 11 2009 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Widnes Vikings 40 York City Knights 18

THE returning Toa Kohe-Love bagged himself a late second- half hat-trick as Widnes ended a difficult week on a high with a welcome quarter final victory over Championship division one outfit York, writes Paul Glynn.

Head coach Paul Cullen was relatively pleased with the efforts of his troops in light of the ongoing off-field changes currently being made at the Lowerhouse Lane club.

Cullen said: “It was tough preparation during the week but there were some good signs that we can fight our way through the issues that we have.

“When we stick to our game plan we look good, when we don’t we look ordinary.

“But it’s fair to say that we haven’t peaked and hopefully there is more to come from us at the back end of the season.”

Despite a convincing looking scoreline Vikings did not have it all their own way and the visitors fully merited their 12-10 half time lead.

Widnes took an early lead when winger Dean Gaskell intercepted a loose York pass to race nearly the length of the field to score.

Vikings new boy Craig Hall, who arrived on loan from Hull only the day before missed with his first conversion attempt, but made no mistake shortly after, converting an Anthony Thackeray touchdown.

Widnes were then forced to absorb an extended period of pressure from the visitors, holding firm until just after the half hour mark when visitors forward Paul Hughes went over. Half-back Adam Mitchell converted.

Hughes helped himself to a dubious looking second soon after, as the referee failed to spot a York knock on in the build up. Mitchell again converted to give the away side the lead at the interval.

Ben Kavanagh then burst through to score for Widnes, with Hall again converting.

The underdogs were not to lie down without a fight, as Mitchell converted a Danny Ratcliffe try.

However, efforts from Richard Varkulis, Richard Fletcher and a trio of tries from Kohe-Love, augmented by Hall’s third, fourth and fifth goals of the day ensured that his new side will now travel to Halifax to contest the semi final later this month.

Attendance: 1,650.