Comeback in vain as U19s miss out
DESPITE a valiant effort, Widnes Vikings U19s were beaten 34-22 by the City of Hull Academy at the Halton Stadium.
The City of Hull Academy (COHA) started very strongly, and scored within the opening two minutes as Will Tate got himself his first score of the afternoon.
The Vikings were pulled back for a forward pass in their opening set and put the visitors into position, and they made it count. The ball was moved to their left edge, and Tate found enough space to go over.
Five minutes later, and Adam Rooks extended their lead. The loose forward came back on an inside ball from Ben McNamara, and was able to barge his way over from close range. McNamara converted.
The COHA made it 16 points in as many minutes when Callum Stark strectched their lead further. On the back of a penalty to put them into position, Stark came charging onto a short ball at the line to get the ball down. McNamara again converted the try.
Following this, the Vikings rallied, and thought they had reduced the deficit when Lewis Else dummied at the line and looked to have touched down, but the play was pulled back for a knock-on by Else.
The Vikings were not to be denied however, as Dan Hill got the home side on the board on the 25 minute mark. The ball was moved to the left edge, and Hill dummied at the line to create the space for him to touch down. Else converted the try.
The home side cut the gap even further as Ollie Brookes went over five minutes later, after wonderful work on his inside by Dan Hill with a pat on at the line. Else converted again.
However, the final score of the half went to the COHA, as Tate grabbed his second try after beating a defender on the left edge. McNamara converted the try to give the away side the 10-point lead at the break.
The Vikings started very strongly in the second half and got their rewards as Else got himself on the scoresheet.
A short ball from Else to Brown went to ground, but the half-back played on, prodded the ball into the in-goal and scored the try.
The scores were levelled on the 55 minute mark, after more Widnes pressure, as Ciaran O’Donnell scored a trademark hooker’s try. O’Donnell spotted a defender moving the other way, darted out from dummy half, and dove over under the sticks untouched. Else added the extras to level it up.
The Vikings pushed to edge themselves in front, but COHA stood firm and regained control of the game.
After a number of errors from Widnes gifted the COHA field position, Elliot Wallis was on the end of a cut-out pass from Morgan Cutsforth to get over in the left hand corner under pressure from Niall Smith. McNamara converted from the touchline.
The final score of the afternoon came from the away side, as Charlie Graham collected a kick to the corner on the last to go over on their right edge. McNamara was again on point with the boot to hand the COHA the victory. ● Widnes: Daniel Hill, Niall Smith, Liam Barnes, Ollie Brookes, Lewis Talbot, Tony Fenlon, Lewis Else, Calum O’Neill, Jake Burns, Dec Baker, Jordan Brown, Connor Burgess, Ben Davies. Subs - Ciaran O’Donnell, Brad Calland, Robbie Ascroft, Alfie Cassidy. ● City of Hull: Josh Atkinson, Elliot Wallis, Will Tate, Jude Ferreira, Charlie Graham, Ben McNamara, Morgan Cutsforth, Harry Bardle, Jordan Webster, Callum Stark, Tom Whur, Jack Bartlett, Adam Rooks. Subs - George Cook, Ryan Johnson, Matthew Smith, Jamie Hoggarth.