WIDNES VIKINGS 40 WORKINGTON TOWN 12
JAMES GORDON, DCBL Stadium, Sunday
FRANK SERGENT scored a hat-trick of tried as Widnes all but secured fifth place with a comfortable win.
The winger crossed for the game’s opening try inside the first minute to perhaps give coach Allan Coleman a selection poser ahead of the 1895 Cup final against London Broncos at Warrington on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.
Sergent dived in at the left corner after young fullback Jaiden Tallantire dropped Danny Richardson’s high kick.
The Vikings’ lead was doubled on nine minutes when quick hands from Tom Gilmore, who signed a two-year contract extension days before, and Jack Owens put Kieran Taylor, another player out to stake a claim for a final place, over.
Workington wasted their first real opportunity to build pressure when Jamie Doran kicked on the second tackle off the back of a penalty, and they otherwise struggled to get themselves out of their own half, despite the efforts of frontrower Lucas Castle.
Jordan Johnstone jumped out of dummy-half to put Nick Gregson over by the posts, Richardson converting, and then a sharp break in midfield by Jumah Sambou was ended by a desperate tackle by Zarrin Galea.
But with the defence at sixes and sevens, Widnes moved the ball to the edges and Taylor barrelled over for his second try, again goaled.
Even when Town thought they had Widnes stopped in midfield, a bit of trickery by Owens enabled him get away from a tackler and send Gregson powering through off a short pass, and the loose-forward showed Tallantire a clean pair of heels in curving round by the posts, leaving Richardson to add the two.
Leading 26-0 at half-time, the aim for Widnes would have been to get through injury free, while mistakes hindered Workington.
From a knock-on, Widnes moved forward and the returning Morgan McWhirter created space for Richardson and Owens to put Sergent in for his second.
But Workington kept going and nearly created something from nothing when Doran’s kick in behind was chased down by Galea, who just couldn’t quite bring in the high bouncing ball.
They did get on the board just before the hour, shortly after a long stoppage when Mason Lewthwaite was helped off, Jake Carter dummying through from ten metres to go under the posts before converting his own try.
Their joy was shortlived, as Doran failed to trap the kick-off and gave possession straight back to Widnes, who scored when Owens put Sam Wilde over.
The best try came on 67 minutes when Owens picked out a man in the line and pierced through from deep, finding Sergent on his inside. He managed to evade the chasing Galea to complete his hat-trick, and Richardson added his fourth goal.
Workington had the final say when Castleford loanee Harrison Jewitt claimed an interception close to his own line and went the full length, Carter converting.
GAMESTAR: Widnes skipper Jack Owens had a hand in a number of tries on his return from suspension.
GAMEBREAKER: The Vikings never really looked in trouble from the first minute when Sergent opened the scoring.
MATCHFACTS
VIKINGS
3 Jack Owens
24 Frank Sergent
29 Jumah Sambou
25 Kieran Taylor
5 Ryan Ince
17 Danny Richardson
7 Tom Gilmore
8 Dan Murray
9 Jordan Johnstone
21 Jay Chapelhow
11 Sam Wilde
12 Max Roberts
13 Nick Gregson
Subs (all used)
16 Danny Langtree
18 Morgan McWhirter
19 Adam Lawton
– Aiden Doolan
Tries: Sergent (1, 44, 67), Taylor (9, 26), Gregson (22, 35), S Wilde (60)
Goals: Richardson 4/8
TOWN
27 Jaiden Tallantire
29 Harrison Jewitt
21 Evan Lawther
23 Riley Dervan
1 Zarrin Galea
6 Jake Carter
9 Jamie Doran
8 Ross Ainley
26 Tuarae Rawhiti
15 Callum Farrer
28 Jack Ainley
11 Mason Lewthwaite
25 Bear Williams
Subs (all used)
13 Jack Stephenson
17 Lucas Castle
18 Jude Lupton
20 Tyce Walmsley
Tries: Carter (58), Jewitt (79)
Goals: Carter 2/2
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 8-0, 14-0, 20-0, 26-0; 30-0, 30-6, 34-6, 40-6, 40-12
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Vikings: Jack Owens; Town: Lucas Castle
Penalty count: 4-4
Half-time: 26-0
Referee: Josh Pemberton
Attendance: 2,183