Vikings on rise
Monday, June 8, 2009 THE club suspended two unnamed players for seven days after their involvement in an incident in a local bar.
They also took rapid steps to remind players of their responsibilities, banning them from socialising in the town.
Sporting director, Terry O’Connor, commented: “The players are role models and every time they are out in public they represent Widnes Vikings.
“We will not tolerate behaviour of this kind.” ● WIDNES VIKINGS: On This Day is available now at £9.99 from the Vikings Superstore. ● ● WIDNES VIKINGS ...................... 26 CATALANS DRAGONS ................ 6
WIDNES lifted themselves off the bottom of Super League for the first time in nine weeks as they powered past lacklustre Catalans 26-6 on Sunday afternoon.
Denis Betts’s Vikings have been rooted to the bottom of the table since April after enduring a miserable campaign that has been blighted by a combination of injuries and wretched form, but they now look to be finally turning the corner.
The result represents the first ● time Widnes have managed to bag back-to-back wins this season, building on the shock victory against Leeds.
The victory was comfortable in the end and largely thanks to the display of their Aussies, Rhys Hanbury and Corey Thompson, who collected a try each and were in form with the boot, hitting all the goals.
The Dragons, meanwhile, have won just one of their last eight on this evidence look a team that could be dragged into the bottom four places.
Catalans started brightly enough and even opened up the scoring after nine minutes as Sam Moa steamrollered his way over after being dropped in by stand-off Luke Walsh.
Walsh added the extras from in front of the sticks but soon the Dragons were on the back foot as Widnes probed through Aaron Heremaia and Hanbury as they looked to get in position to register points.
And the points eventually came as Jack Buchanan burst onto a short ball from dummyhalf to scatter two Dragons defenders and force the ball down.
Hanbury hit the conversion to make it level, but Widnes were not done and the in-form Ryan Ince went close for the home side as he looked to keep up his tryscoring exploits from last week against the Rhinos.
The Vikings did make one count though when Richie Myler was sin-binned by official Ben Thaler for interference as Widnes looked to get on with things.
With the Dragons down to 12 men, Widnes made hay and Charly Runciman connected with Hanbury for the Vikings’ second try.
Hanbury made it two goals from two attempts before Myler