Betts a winner as Vikings edge Rhinos

Denis Betts’ nerves may have been cut to ribbons as the pendulum swung this way and that during Widnes Vikings’ clash with Leeds Rhinos on Monday.

However, the Widnes coach was in the end able to celebrate his team pulling off an almighty upset with a fine 28-20 victory.

Bottom-of-the-table Vikings earned only their second Super League victory of the season-their first since they edged out St Helens 16-14 on April 21 — with a dramatic triumph over third-placed Leeds. The lead changed hands three times in the final 10 minutes as both teams went hammer and tongs but Betts’ players outgunned their high-flying opponents six scores to four, with Ryan Ince and Corey Thompson both bagging braces. The former Wigan and Great Britain star second row forward admitted Monday’s clash wasn’t good for the heart but the final result made it all worth it.

“It was one of those bizarre situations where I was feeling a bit aggrieved in some of the things we’d done or not done to close the game out-and then we score two tries,” said the 47-year-old, who has been Vikings head coach for seven years. “I had the ‘here we go again’ feeling. We just needed to win this tight one. Leeds are a pretty good side. “They had no Danny Maguire but not many more (players missing), so this is a fantastic win for us.

“Ryan Ince is a great finisher-he just loves scoring tries. “He just puts the blinkers on and goes for it. “He’s a product of the system the RFL told us to forget five years ago. We kept on with it and we’re doing bringing local players through.”

His Leeds counterpart Brian McDermott said he could have no complaints about the outcome. “I have to give Widnes massive credit. Denis Betts has asked for a reaction from his players and he got one,” said McDermott. At the other end of the table, Castleford Tigers ensured they stayed two points clear at the top of the tree with a dominant 38-0 victory at Leigh Centurions.

Former Brisbane Broncos man Greg Eden stole the show as he ran in a scorching fourtry haul, which included a five-minute hattrick, but Castleford head coach Daryl Powell was most enthused with his side’s defensive prowess. —AFP