With spring struggles
uphill battle.
But Denis Betts’s men showed real resolve after the break and two tries from grubber kicks by Tom Olbison and Aaron Heremaia with a Rhys Hanbury goal saw them take a share of the spoils.
Little did they know at the time, but it wasn’t to be the last dramatic encounter the Vikings would have in Perpignan.
The heroics of eight days earlier seemed like a distant memory when Castleford Tigers visited the Select Security Stadium and ran away with a 34-0 victory.
The Tigers were simply unstoppable and crossed for some superb long range tries with wingers Greg Eden and Greg Minikin each bagging a brace.
The Vikings enjoyed a good start to their next game against Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium when Aaron Heremaia crossed for a six-pointer against his former club.
But the Airlie Birds soon took control and tries from 2017 Dream Team players Albert Kelly and Mahe Fonua helped them establish a 14-6 halftime lead.
Further scores from Kelly, Danny Houghton and Jamie Shaul gave the home side a 32-12 win with Lloyd White getting Widnes’s other touchdown.
The Vikings ended the month still without a win in Super League when they were on the wrong end of a 46-10 home thrashing from Salford Red Devils.
The in-form Devils scored nine tries to two with scores from Corey Thompson and Rhys Hanbury pro- ● viding little consolation for Widnes fans.
APRIL IT took until April Fools’ Day for Widnes to register their first win of the campaign.
Leigh Centurions were the victims as an understrength and youthful Vikings outfit produced a superb display to run out 37-24 victors.
Stand-off Danny Craven was the Star Man as he ran in an impressive hat-trick of tries.
Chris Bridge, Sam Brooks and Charly Runciman were the other Widnes tryscorers with Tom Gilmore booting six goals.
The euphoria was shortlived as the Vikings were thrashed 30-4 at Super League surprise packets Wakefield the following Friday evening.
Widnes were never in the contest with only a Corey Thompson try to show for their efforts as Trinity ran away with it in the second half.
The home derby against Warrington was played on Maundy Thursday and although it started well with a Stefan Marsh try giving the Vikings the lead, the Wolves replied with three touchdowns to establish a 17-4 interval lead.
Widnes fought hard after the break and pulled a converted try back through Charly Runciman but Warrington held on for a 19-10 victory.
Easter Monday saw Denis Betts’s depleted side put up a spirited second half performance before going down 42-22 to Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Carnegie.
The damage was done in the first half with the Rhinos establishing a 30-6 lead. The Vikings’ tries came from Tom Gilmore who crossed twice, Corey Thompson and Chris Houston.
Widnes’s first home win of the season came against out-of-sorts St Helens courtesy of Patrick Ah Van’s second try nine minutes from time.
A hard-fought first half had seen the scores locked at 12-12 with Ah Van and Joe Mellor touching down and the Vikings’ defence held strong after the break to register a narrow but more than welcome 16-14 victory.
April ended on a downswing when Salford completed a league double over the Vikings with a 30-10 victory at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Widnes were still in touch well into the second half thanks to tries from Tom Gilmore and Patrick Ah Van but it was the home side that came home with a wet sail.