Vikings head for place in the sun

Dec 31 2008 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

WIDNES Vikings fly out to Portugal this weekend to put the final touches on their preparations for the 2009 season.

McCormack’s new-look side secured a narrow 26-28 victory over St Helens on Saturday in their first competitive run-out of the new campaign.

They will now take part in an intensive six-day training camp to ensure that they are ready for the big kick-off.

Coach McCormack is delighted to be heading for the continent on the back of a well-deserved Christmas Challenge victory at the GPW Recruitment Stadium.

McCormack said: “It was good to get a win under our belts and all of our new players played well.

“St Helens had a sprinkling of experience to add to their young side but to beat them at any level is an achievement.

“It was also pleasing to see us score two or three tries from set-pieces that we have been working on in training of late.”

The coach reserved special praise for two players, who many believe could hold the key to opening up Widnes’s title challenge – powerhouse forward Iain Morrison and athletic full-back Loz Wildbore.

“Iain always plays like he enjoys the game, which is great to see,” said McCormack.

“Loz was explosive, as were the rest of our back three, which we changed around throughout the match.

“We can do that now as we have great competition for places, with two or three players vying for each position.”

He added: “But we still need to improve and will now use the trip to iron out any problems that we have before the start of the season.

“We’re certainly not going to Portugal for a holiday and it’s that first Northern Rail match that we are aiming towards now in everything that we do.”

Widnes will return from Europe in time to face Whitehaven in a friendly at the Stobart Stadium Halton on Sunday, January 18 (3pm).

They will then take on Salford City Reds at home on Tuesday, January 27 (7.30pm) before also hosting their final pre-season friendly against opposition still to be announced on Sunday, February 1 (3pm).

Widnes Vikings’ competitive season kicks off in earnest on Sunday, February 8 at Barrow in the Northern Rail Cup ( 2pm).

A minute’s silence was observed before Saturday’s friendly in memory of rugby league legend Vince Karalius, who died earlier this month at home on the Isle of Man.

Great Britain international Karalius had starred for both Widnes, his hometown club who he later managed, and St Helens in a remarkable career.

Fittingly, Vince’s great nephew Ben Karalius, 17, came off the bench to make his Saints first-team debut.