Dragons in super style
victorious start to the new Super League season on Sunday as they beat Catalans 40-12. were really, really good.”
The visitors’ discipline was poor in the opening exchanges and prop Sam Moa was sin-binned for a late hit on Mellor.
While the Dragons were down to 12 men, Widnes opened the scoring when Dean crashed over from closerange with Gilmore adding the extras.
With Moa back on the field, Catalans enjoyed a spell of pressure and levelled things up when full-back David Mead profited from half-back Luke Walsh’s flat pass to level things up.
Things started to look a little bleak for the Vikings on 24 minutes when they failed to deal with a cross-kick and Dragons back-rower Benjamin Jullien picked up the pieces to give his side a 12-6 advantage.
Five minutes before the break, Dean again lifted his side with a superb right foot sidestep and break before sending Mellor over under the posts to make it level at half-time.
A jinking Mellor run put Widnes on the front foot early in the second half and they capitalised when Inu caught Tom Gilmore’s pinpoint kick to touchdown for a six-pointer which made it 18-12.
A Gilmore penalty goal stretched the gap further before Mellor’s lovely delayed pass on last tackle sent Dean through a huge hole to cross behind the sticks.
On 71 minutes, fine work by Whitley sent Runciman away and he in turn put Ah Van in at the left corner with Gilmore’s fine goal giving Widnes a 32-12 lead.
Inu’s challenge for a high kick saw the Vikings score another last tackle try as the ball was kept alive for Runciman to touch down and with the last play of the game an Inu interception saw him link up with Stefan Marsh for a length of the field score to send the Select Security Stadium crowd home happy. ● BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE