Derby setback
Saturday, April 20 1940 THE Chemics had home advantage in the first game of a two-legged Lancashire Cup Final but failed to make it count as Swinton won 5-4.
Despite enjoying territorial advantage throughout, Widnes’s only points came from the boot of Peter Topping.
Swinton had taken the lead just before the break with an opportunist breakaway try before Topping added the first of his goals.
Fourteen minutes into the second half Hodgson added a further two points for Swinton with Topping countering for the Chemics, who despite heavy pressure could not pierce the Swinton defence. ● WIDNES VIKINGS: On This Day is available now at £9.99 from the Vikings Superstore. ● ● WIDNES VIKINGS ...................... 10 WARRINGTON WOLVES ........... 19 inability to hold onto possession “In the second half we showed giving their opponents too many some positives and I’m pretty opportunities to exploit what has optimistic about the group. What N 2016, the Easter derby was often been a fragile defence this I’ve been looking for, I’m starting very much a top-of-the-table season. to see. clash. The Vikings enjoyed much the “Overall, it’s a win and loss One year on and Widnes and better of things after the break game but I saw some things that Warrington found themselves but couldn’t convert enough made me think there are wins in scrabblingus.aroundatthefootofchancestopullthegameoutof the league ladder. the fire. “Chris Dean was back which
And Maundy Thursday evenSpeaking immediately after the was a real positive and I thought ing’s 19-10 victory for the Wolves final hooter, Widnes boss, Denis he looked really strong on that at the Select Security Stadium Betts, said: “With our completion edge. meant it was the Vikings who rate in the first half, we didn’t “He offered lots of threat which remained firmly stuck at the botreally give ourselves a chance. we’ve been lacking a bit with our tom of the Super League table. “They started to win the ruck back-rowers.
The damage was done in the and got out of dummy-half really “Joe Mellor and Alex Gerrard opening period with Widnes’s well, like they do. were both a little bit better in
I● their second game back after long lay-offs.”
Widnes took an early lead when winger Stefan Marsh raced in after opposite number Matty Russell lost possession bringing the ball away from his own line.
It did not take the Wolves long to hit back, however.
A couple of penalties piggybacked Tony Smith’s men up the field where Stefan Ratchford’s cut-out pass put left winger Tom Lineham over to make it 4-4.
More indiscipline from the Vikings saw them again on the back foot and Wolves secondrower Jack Hughes crashed over