Widnes Vikings hold off spirited Rochdale Hornets

ROCHDALE HORNETS 16 WIDNES VIKINGS 34
IAN RIGG, Crown Oil Arena, Sunday

WIDNES reached round three but were made to fight all the way by impressive Rochdale.

The first Vikings chance came in the third minute when new signing Rhys Williams went over in the left corner, but the pass was judged forward.

Matty Fleming then had a chance down the right but knocked on.

The visitors finally took the lead on eleven minutes when a good passing move after a penalty ended with Danny Langtree crashing over on the left and Tom Gilmore converting.

The first Hornets chance came on 19 minutes when Martyn Ridyard put in a short kick towards the posts which was hacked dead.

Williams had two chances in two minutes, but good defence held him out before Widnes went further ahead on 27, when Dec Patton put a measured kick towards the line and Joe Edge won the race to score, with Gilmore again goaling.

Soon after they were in again when Williams finally got his try in the left corner.

Rochdale had a great couple of minutes attacking the Widnes line after a lost ball and even an extra set of six, but they eventually lost possession 20 metres out.

They did have another opportunity, but knocked on, and the half finished with Widnes on the attack.

Rochdale responded with their first attack of the second half when Myles Harrop broke up the left to feed the supporting Gregg McNally, who scored by the posts with Ridyard converting.

A second try followed a Widnes error and fast hands led to Ben Will narrowing the angle to score on the right. Ridyard added the two.

Widnes got the ball back from the kick-off when Rochdale allowed it to bounce, but they couldn’t make anything from the set on the line.

The home team then enjoyed pressure on the line and Morgan Punchard went close before they gave away three quick penalties.

Williams crossed for his second after a good pass from Edge as the subsequent pressure told, and Gilmore converted.

Lewis Hall went close only to lose the ball near the Rochdale line, but he did get over on 68 minutes after an initial break by Langtree down the left set up then position, Gilmore added the extras.

Widnes stretched their lead when a loose ball was collected by Rhodri Lloyd, and he scored on the right, Gilmore again goaling.

During the build-up to the try Ridyard picked up what looked like a nasty arm injury and had to leave the field.

Rochdale would not roll over however, and Luke Forber flew in wide out.

GAMESTAR: Widnes halfback Tom Gilmore produced a controlled performance and great kicking game.

GAMEBREAKER: Two tries late in the first half gave the visitors a platform from which to seal the tie.

MATCHFACTS
HORNETS
1 Gregg McNally
21 Ben Will
14 Max Flanagan
4 Myles Harrop
5 Luke Forber
6 Martyn Ridyard
7 Lewis Else
8 Josh Johnson
9 Oli Burton
10 Luke Nelmes
18 Zac Baker
12 Duane Straugheir
13 Emmerson Whittel
Subs (all used)
23 Morgan Punchard
17 Ben Killan
19 Jaden Dayes
16 Jordan Andrade

Tries: McNally (42), Will (46), Forber (76)
Goals: Ridyard 2/2, Flanagan 0/1

VIKINGS
1 Jack Owens
29 Rhys Williams
3 Matty Fleming
4 Joe Edge
5 Mike Butt
19 Dec Patton
7 Tom Gilmore
8 Dan Murray
14 Matty Fozard
10 Martyn Reilly
11 Rhodri Lloyd
12 Danny Langtree
13 Ryan Lannon
Subs (all used)
27 Aiden Doolan
16 Liam Kirk
20 Lewis Hall
21 Gavin Bennion