BETTS BACK ON VIKINGS Late show completes comeback to shatter Red Devils
Widnes 24 Salford 16 GREG BURKE and Aaron Heremaia struck late on to end the Vikings’ barren run against Salford and send Denis Betts’ side up to fifth.
Widnes had lost their last six meetings with the Red Devils and trailed for long periods of a tight tussle.
But front-rower Burke plunged over to give them the lead with 10 minutes left, and hard-working hooker Heremaia then capitalised on a ricochet to make sure.
It was tough on a Salford side that had Robert Lui’s boot to thank for leading for much of the game.
Ian Watson’s men also had to deal with prop Lama Tasi spending 10 minutes in the sin-bin for a shoulder charge early in the second half.
But they will feel they should have made more of dominating the first quarter and then made crucial mistakes late in the contest.
Salford were ahead from the 18th minute, when Lui’s spiralling kick was allowed to bounce by home full-back Rhys Hanbury and Josh Jones sent Craig Kopczak over by the posts.
Widnes hit back as Chris Dean forced his way over from Joe Mellor’s pass, but two Lui penalties made it 10-6 to the Red Devils at the break.
Tasi was then shown the yellow card soon after the restart and moments later Salford were behind. The Vikings were handed the ball from a controversial decision when debutant Derrell Olpherts was penalised for an apparent ball steal.
Half-backs Danny Craven and Mellor then linked well with Hanbury and Krisnan Inu powered out wide.
But after Tasi returned the visitors hit back.
Another Lui kick caused confusion in the home defence and Weller Hauraki twisted over from close range.
Lui missed the conversion but added a penalty soon after.
That made it 16-12 with the clock ticking down before Burke forced his way over.
Man of the match Heremaia followed him to the line soon after that to seal the points and keep the Red Devils in the bottom four.