Vikings dominate second half to hold off the Panthers’ challenge
Halifax Panthers’ inconsistent start to the season continued with a 40-14 defeat at Widnes Vikings, who in turn made it four wins out of four in the Betfred Championship.
It is now two wins and two defeats for Liam Finn’s men at the start of their 2024 league campaign but they looked to be on course for their first set of back-to-back victories after leading the in-form Vikings 14-4 at the break.
However, 26 unanswered second half points ensured they returned to West Yorkshire empty handed.
There was no sign of this forthcoming misery for the Panthers as Gareth Widdop scored his first try for his hometown club after only three minutes, after crashing over from close range.
Fax had to be at their best defensively to keep their noses in front but they managed to extend their lead through Louis Jouffret after 23 minutes following a great team move.
Widnes, in rather fortuitous circumstances, got a deserved try just after the half-hour mark courtesy of Rhodri Lloyd, but Fax, who moments before survived a major scare in Widnes having a try disallowed, somehow extended their lead before the hooter when Ben Kavanagh crashed over from close range.
The Vikings, despite being behind, grabbed the initiative at the start of the second half with Matty Fozard crossing close to the posts. And Fax’s lead was wiped out seconds later when Ryan Ince crossed after the home side shifted the ball neatly from right to left to make it 14-14.
The momentum was with
Widnes who having been behind 14-4 after 40 minutes, found themselves 20-14 up after 50 minutes as a Tom Gilmore kick was collected gleefully by Danny Langtree.
A fourth try in 12 staggering minutes came via Jack Owens. Fax had no answers.
Gilmore, as predicted by Finn ahead of the game, was orchestrating proceedings, and his penalty extended the lead to 28-14.
The was still time for both Owens and Lloyd to bag their second tries of an afternoon to forget for Fax.
Elsewhere, Wakefield maintained their 100 per cent winning start to their 2024 league campaign by romping to a 50-6 triumph at lowly York Knights. Featherstone Rovers and Batley Bulldogs celebrated victories while Dewsbury Rams lost to Barrow Raiders.