Vikings take plaudits for fair play

Apr 17 2008 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

WIDNES Vikings are testimony to the fact that teams can win within the rules of the game.

Vikings are early leaders of the Frontline Fairplay Index in The Co-operative National League One.

At the end of the season, the winners of the Frontline Fairplay Index will, as the best-disciplined side in NL1, win a trophy and £5,000 from Frontline Bathrooms.

Steve McCormack’s men, unbeaten in their current league campaign, gave away just 19 penalties in the first three rounds of the competition to lead the Index by one point from Halifax.

Figures including the fourth round of the competition, played last weekend, are not yet available as disciplinary hearings at NL1 level do not take place until a week after games.

Newly-promoted teams are also faring well. Featherstone Rovers lie third with 27 points and Celtic Crusaders are joint fifth with 28.

Whitehaven are eight points adrift at the bottom of the Index with 44 points due to conceding 35 penalties and three sin binnings.