Vikings ready for raiders

Mar 13 2008 by Ian Cheveau, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

WIDNES boss Steve McCormack reckons the Carnegie Challenge Cup tie against Skirlaugh will have given his side the “kick up the backside’ they needed leading up to the new Co-operative National League One season.

McCormack was less than impressed with his side’s laboured performance against the National Conference League amateurs – although a 60-18 victory booked Widnes’ place alongside Super League sides in tonight’s fourth-round draw.

McCormack claims his side’s lacklustre showing will fire them to victory at Barrow Raiders on Sunday in the Northern Rail Cup.

He said: “Most importantly, we got a kick up the backside we needed without losing the game.

“At times, it’s very difficult as you get that far in front and then suddenly the intensity levels drop a bit.

“That is exactly what happened and I must credit Skirlaugh for that.

“We gave them a lot of good opportunities and let them back into the game when we should have been well ahead if we had performed the way we know we can.

“We have studied the video and have put a few things right so I don’t expect the intensity to drop on Sunday.”

Two weeks ago, the Vikings completed a demolition job on the Raiders in a rearranged midweek fixture at Stobart Stadium Halton – Widnes running in 13 unanswered tries.

Many will expect Vikings to continue that kind of form but McCormack anticipates a “tough encounter”.

He said: ‘Barrow at Barrow is a hard game – no question about it.

“They have quite big expectations of themselves and they can be very hard to beat at their place.

“We need to start hitting form as well. The points we have scored the last three games have been outstanding but we need to tighten up on defence and stop leaking tries.”

Ex-Vikings’ favourite Mick Cassidy, who has a player-coaching role with the Raiders, is unlikely to figure against his former club due to a nose operation.

Widnes’s only doubt is Jim Gannon, who is still recovering from a nasty finger injury sustained during the Skirlaugh clash.

McCormack added: “Tim Hartley is a lot better and has responded to treatment on his back-spasm injury and if he is fit, he will play.

“Paul Noone has also recovered so, barring Jim, we are all fully fit and looking forward to it.”