CHAMPS CHUMPS
RUGBY LEAGUE TO Travel-sick Rhinos thumped
BRIAN McDERMOTT refused to use the trip back from Australia or injuries as an excuse for this Leeds defeat.
The champions, who lost their World Club Challenge match in Melbourne last weekend, were missing 12 key players.
But coach McDermott said: “We have not been down a mine digging coal, it is not the worst in the world – we have been in Australia.
“It would have had an effect in that I wasn’t expecting a 10 out of 10 performance, but I will not expect anything below par.
“It would be flippant not to recognise that we have got some players out, but it was still a disappointing loss.”
The Rhinos were up against it with so many fringe players in the side but they were still in with a shout with 10 minutes to go.
They only trailed by six points but Widnes finally found a ruthless streak and killed off the game.
Vikings head coach Denis Betts said: “It was a great win and a well-deserved result.
Problems
“But give Leeds a lot of credit as well because we had to play well to beat them. They have a determination not to lie down.”
Widnes, who also had their own injury problems, although not on Leeds’ level, took the lead with a Joe Mellor try. But Leeds, who have now lost their last four visits to the Halton Stadium, went in ahead at the break.
Hooker Brad Dwyer twisted past three Vikings players to touch down, with Kallum Watkins adding the goal for a 6-4 lead.
Widnes had Hep Cahill sinbinned for racing into a fracas but they held out while they were a man down and even scored as he returned.
Krisnan Inu did well to catch and ground a great cross-field kick from Joe Gilmore and then added the conversion and a penalty.
Inu, and Leeds’ Richie Myler, both had tries disallowed and Gilmore also went close.
But Widnes sealed the win with late tries from Danny Walker and Inu, along with an Inu goal and Danny Craven drop goal.