NEWCASTLE THUNDER 34 WIDNES VIKINGS 16
PHIL WORLD, Crow Trees, Saturday
NEWCASTLE came out on top of a real play-off battle, the story of which wasn’t reflected by the final scoreline.
Widnes trailed by two points at half-time and only four with a quarter of an hour left, before Harvey Reynolds and Mitch Clark tries settled a pulsating encounter.
While Thunder march on to the semi-finals, Widnes will go again in an eliminator.
The scoring was opened by Newcastle on nine minutes as Ryan Jackson took a short ball to barge his way over and Myles Harrison converted.
Widnes got back into the game and were looking dangerous through their lively backs, but Thunder held firm.
On 19 minutes Widnes were building pressure on the Thunder line but as they went to pull the trigger Jordan Lipp raced to intercept and went the length of the field to go under the posts. Harrison added the extras and Thunder led 12-0 after the first quarter.
The introduction of Adam Lawton from the interchange bench revitalised the vikings, who now looked dangerous. They were bouncing out of tackles and their pressure told on 25 minutes when Jordan Johnstone ran an outside line to score and Danny Richardson converted.
While Widnes had their tails up, Newcastle were guilty of indiscipline, conceding penalties to add to their problems. The ball came to Lawton in attack and he powered his way over to score, with Richardson’s kick levelling.
In the final ten minutes of the first half it was all Widnes, but just before half-time the Tynesiders were awarded a penalty as the visitors were offside and Harrison converted for a slender 14-12 lead.
The first score was always going to be crucial in the second half and it went to Thunder. Bailey Antrobus got on the end of Jordan Lipp’s delayed pass to go over, Harrison converted and they led 20-12.
Widnes refused to lie down in this pulsating encounter as they scored the try of the game, keeping the ball alive excellently until Frank Sergent went over in the corner. Richardson couldn’t add the extras but it was a one-score game at 20-16.
The Vikings looked dangerous and threatening but the Thunder defence held firm, including a brilliant defensive intercept from Will Roberts.
The game-changing moment came as Widnes attacked on 68 minutes but the ball went loose, Lipp regathered off the floor and fed Reynolds who ran in from halfway to score. Harrison continued his excellent form off the tee to extend the lead to 26-16.
Shortly after, Clark burrowed over and Harrison converted to suck the life out of a Widnes side who have done it tough in recent weeks.
Newcastle were awarded a penalty on the hooter which Harrison also kicked for a perfect seven goals from seven.
GAMESTAR: Myles Harrison was rock solid under the high ball and excellent off the tee in an excellent performance at fullback.
GAMEBREAKER: Widnes were attacking with the score at 20-16, the ball went loose and Harvey Reynolds ran in from halfway.
MATCHFACTS
THUNDER
1 Myles Harrison
2 Andy Djeukessi
4 Jude Ferreira
11 Harvey Reynolds
5 Brad Ward
27 Jordan Lipp
7 Will Roberts
10 Ryan Jackson
13 Sam Cook
20 Mitch Clark
8 Bailey Antrobus
22 John Sagaga
17 King Vuniyayawa
Subs (all used)
12 Noah Whittingham
18 Ukuma Ta’ai
26 Kieran Hudson
33 Alfie Horwell
Tries: Jackson (9), Lipp (19), Antrobus (43), Reynolds (68), Clark (71)
Goals: Harrison 7/7
VIKINGS
23 Nathan Connell
24 Frank Sergent
25 Kieran Taylor
3 Jack Owens
5 Ryan Ince
17 Danny Richardson
7 Tom Gilmore
8 Dan Murray
9 Jordan Johnstone
21 Jay Chapelhow
12 Max Roberts
16 Danny Langtree
13 Nick Gregson
Subs (all used)
14 Matty Fozard
18 Morgan McWhirter
19 Adam Lawton
35 Max Banditt
Tries: Johnstone (25), Lawton (29), Sergent (50)
Goals: Richardson 2/3
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 12-12, 14-12; 20-12, 20-16, 26-16, 32-16, 34-16
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Thunder: Myles Harrison; Vikings: Nick Gregson
Penalty count: 7-7
Half-time: 14-12
Referee: Liam Rush