LONDON BRONCOS 44 WIDNES VIKINGS 12
OLIVER WHITMORE, Cherry Red Records Stadium, Sunday

NEW-LOOK London enjoyed a perfect start under Jason Demetriou in a bulldozing win over a spirited Widnes side. 

New arrival Dean Hawkins had star quality and he opened proceedings just ten minutes in, while his second try seized back the lead after Jordan Johnstone and Jordan Abdull had deservedly levelled the game. 

Another debut try, by experienced prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, put the Broncos in the driving seat just after the restart, and they cruised through the second half for an opening-day victory. 

The Vikings held firm in the opening minutes of the game, with stand-off Joe Lyons and hooker Jordan Johnstone working hard to impede numerous Broncos attacks through the middle, with towering prop and two-time World Cup winner Campbell-Gillard prominent.

But the 32-year-old wasn’t shy of controversy, as a pushing-and-shoving match erupted ten yards from the try line following a high challenge on Widnes winger Mike Butt.

Widnes’ Lyons exacted a well-timed tackle on Luke Smith, in the home side’s second rower, forcing a crucial turnover of possession deep inside their own territory. 

The Broncos’ high-profile signings combined for the opening try of the game, as Siliva Havili dialled up the tempo in passing to scrum-half Hawkins, who executed an ingenious fake pass to the right and ran into the daylight in front of him. 

The London side increased their advantage nine minutes later with Alex Max latching onto a ball from Morea Morea right and then showing great strength to force his way through two defenders.

But Widnes were back in it not long afterwards as Johnstone squirmed through towards the try line after they quickly worked it left, across the face of goal, and he planted the ball down. 

The Vikings continued their reply as Jordan Abdull moved the ball left to Sam Wilde, whose brilliant spin to protect the ball and evade Havili’s last-ditch challenge earned another four points.

Abdull made amends for the missed conversion with a penalty kick to level the game as half-time approached.

However, up stepped the explosive Hawkins, escaping two challenges to lay the ball off to Mathias, who burst through in the left channel and bagged another four unconverted points. 

The Broncos started the second half in dominant fashion, with Campbell-Gillard’s inevitable debut try on 45 minutes and Croft’s third conversion giving them control. 

Broncos interchange Lewis Bienek then took full advantage of a foul on James Meadows just shy of goal, marking his appearance off the bench with a try. 

The hosts were now in full control, enjoying lengthy spells in the Vikings’ half. 

Approaching the final quarter, stand-off Connor O’Beirne timed his pass perfectly to Elliot Wallis on the left to bag the Broncos’ sixth try. 

James Meadows strode forward to grab another four points before Croft converted, before Max’s second try brought the total to 44 with minutes to spare.

GAMESTAR: Dean Hawkins was constantly involved from beginning to end, and with two tries to his name he relished a dream debut under Jason Demetriou.

GAMEBREAKER: With the game poised at 16-12 at the break, Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s try just five minutes into the second 40 opened the floodgates for the hosts. 

MATCHFACTS

BRONCOS
1 Morea Morea
2 Elliot Wallis
3 Robert Mathias
4 Alex Max
26 Neil Tchamambe
6 Connor O’Beirne
7 Dean Hawkins
8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
13 Siliva Havili
16 Epel Kapinias
11 Luke Smith
12 Jack Croft
15 Sadiq Adebiyi
Subs (all used)
10 Emarly Bitungane
23 Gairo Voro
18 James Meadows
24 Lewis Bienek

Tries: Hawkins (10), Max (19, 74), Mathias (38), Campbell-Gillard (45), Bienek (50), Wallis (54), Meadows (61)
Goals: Croft 6/8

VIKINGS
1 Matt Fleming
2 Mike Butt
3 Jack Owens
4 Joe Edge
5 Ryan Ince
6 Joe Lyons
22 Jordan Abdull
8 Dan Murray
9 Jordan Johnstone
21 Jay Chapelhow
11 Sam Wilde
12 Max Roberts
13 Nick Gregson
Subs (all used)
10 Liam Bent
14 Matty Fozard
18 Morgan McWhirter
20 Jack Bibby

Tries: Johnstone (24), Wilde (33)
Goals: Abdull 2/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 12-10, 12-12, 16-12; 22-12, 28-12, 32-12, 38-12, 44-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Broncos: Dean Hawkins; Vikings: Jordan Abdull

Penalty count: 6-5
Half-time: 16-12
Referee: Tara Jones
Attendance: 4,380