A difficult start
● Widnes’s Tom Armstrong lays the ball off to Tom Gilmore during February’s opening game of the season.
OVER the next three weeks in the Weekly News, we’ll be looking back over Widnes Vikings’ incident-packed 2017 season. Our first instalment covers the period from February to April...
FEBRUARY IT was a disappointing start to Betfred Super League XXII for the Vikings as they went down 28-16 at home to Huddersfield Giants in Round 1.
After Charly Runciman had given Widnes an early lead, the Giants dominated the rest of the first half with winger Jermaine McGillvary crossing twice to add to tries from Lee Gaskell and fiery back-rower Tom Symonds.
Aaron Murphy added a further ● score for the visitors before the Vikings threatened a comeback with touchdowns from Stefan Marsh and Rhys Hanbury.
However, Rick Stone’s Giants wrapped things up with a try from skipper Leroy Cudjoe.
With the World Club games intervening, Widnes had a fortnight to prepare for their next game against Wigan and it turned out to be mired in controversy.
Having broken Rugby Football League protocol by unilaterally declaring their own pitch unfit, Wigan eventually agreed to switch the game to the Select Security Stadium at the 11th hour.
The decision to move heaven and earth to get the game on certainly looked like working out for the Vikings.
Some superb rugby saw Widnes establish a 26-12 lead midway through the second half with tries from Lloyd White, Danny Craven, Tom Armstrong and Stefan Marsh and five goals from Rhys Hanbury.
However, the Warriors mounted what had seemed like an unlikely comeback with centre Oliver Gildart scoring the winning try to give his side a 28-26 win.
Disappointed Vikings coach Denis Betts commented: “It is a tough one to take. We controlled the game for large parts but that is what a champion side does to you. They know how to win tough games, they are a pretty good side, but I am disappointed not to be talking about the win we should have had.”
MARCH WIDNES made an encouraging start to the month of March by picking up their first-ever league point in Perpignan against Catalans Dragons with a dramatic 14-14 draw.
In terrible conditions at Stade Gilbert Brutus, it looked like the Vikings were bound for yet another defeat in France when the Dragons established a 14-0 lead through tries from Brayden Wiliame and Richie Myler and three Luke Walsh goals.
A try before half-time from winger Patrick Ah Van converted by Rhys Hanbury gave the Vikings hope but it still looked like an