Widnes Vikings wilt under Featherstone Rovers pressure

WIDNES VIKINGS 16 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 38
SIMON JONES, DCBL Stadium, Sunday

FEATHERSTONE found their second wind to claim a third league win after Widnes fought back from 16-0 down to level.

Both the Vikings and Rovers made the play-offs last year but have faltered this time around, starting the clash seventh and eleventh respectively.

The former utilised their dual-registration agreement with Warrington, naming winger James Duffy and secondrow Ewan Smith in their squad.

Meanwhile Matty Fleming was at fullback, a position which has had several takers this year, with Joe Edge returning to the centres.

Featherstone had Fijian King Vuniyayawa back while his fellow frontrow Jack Arnold was involved after being recalled from his loan at Goole.

Danny Langtree threatened early on for the home side, but the visitors soon clicked into gear, with Connor Wynne crossing wide out after five minutes following a break by Australian secondrow Clay Webb.

Duffy appeared to have got Widnes back in it, but was ruled to have lost the ball as he went over.

Featherstone stretched their lead on 16 minutes, when on the back of Ryan Hampshire’s 40-20, Derrell Olpherts cut in from his wing to count with an effort which Ben Reynolds this time converted.

Widnes were left reeling well and truly two minutes later, when another teasing kick caused consternation, Joe Lyons fumbled the ball, and Bailey O’Connor pounced, with Reynolds again tagging on the two for 16-0.

Former player Jayden Hatton looked set to make things even worse for Widnes, but an obstruction was ruled, and the hosts finally found some threat, only for Smith to be thwarted.

However there was no stopping Fleming after Langtree’s break on 34 minutes (although he seemed to injure himself in the act of scoring), and Tom Gilmore added the goal to provide some hope going in at half-time.

It was game on five minutes after the restart as Lyons and versatile skipper Jack Owens – with Fleming out of action, back in the fullback role he occupied for so long before his switch to centre this year – linked up to pave the way for a try by Duffy.

Featherstone sought a response, and Edge had to be alert to knock down a testing kick, before Caleb Aekins was held just short.

Knock-ons by both sides prevented either gaining any meaningful momentum, but Widnes finally found a way through when Max Roberts ran onto another neat Owens pass, and with Gilmore converting from wide out, the contest was level after 57 minutes.

Martyn Reilly was denied as Widnes applied pressure, but the concession of a penalty handed Featherstone a chance which they took as Vuniyayawa forced his way through between the posts, leaving Reynolds with a straightforward kick.

Then with ten minutes to go, Toby Boothroyd eased his way through a flagging defence to put further space between the sides.

Featherstone made sure with two further tries, by Ryan Hampshire on 75 minutes after his side broke from deep, and O’Connor on 79 after an interception. Both were goaled.

GAMESTAR: Returning forward King Vuniyayawa proved a Fijian force for Featherstone.

GAMEBREAKER: Australian secondrow Toby Boothroyd’s 70th-minute try gave Rovers a ten-point advantage after Widnes had fought back to level at 16-16.

MATCHFACTS
VIKINGS
3 Matty Fleming
27 James Duffy
1 Jack Owens
4 Joe Edge
2 Ryan Ince
6 Joe Lyons
7 Tom Gilmore
8 Dan Murray
14 Matty Fozard
10 Martyn Reilly
12 Danny Langtree
28 Ewan Smith
18 Nick Gregson
Subs (all used)
9 Jordan Johnstone
15 Liam Bent
16 Liam Kirk
17 Max Roberts

Tries: Fleming (34), Duffy (45), Roberts (57)
Goals: Gilmore 2/3

ROVERS
1 Caleb Aekins
2 Derrell Olpherts
24 Bailey O’Connor
4 Jayden Hatton
23 Connor Wynne
6 Ben Reynolds
28 Ryan Hampshire
16 King Vuniyayawa
9 Will Jubb
10 Jimmy Beckett
12 Toby Boothroyd
17 Clay Webb
13 Danny Addy
Subs (all used)
14 Connor Jones
20 Josh Hardcastle
21 Jordan Williams
25 Jack Arnold