Wolves challenge at home to open vital games for Widnes
WARRINGTON WOLVES will be Widnes’s first opponents in the Super League Qualifiers after the fixtures were revealed yesterday morning.
The game will take place at the Select Security Stadium a week tomorrow – Friday, August 4 – with the Vikings hoping to get their campaign to stay in the top flight off to a winning start.
It won’t be easy against the side ranked number one in the competition.
Warrington have already defeated the Vikings on three occasions this year with their latest victory coming in the last round of the regular season just a week ago as Tony Smith’s men took the spoils 22-6 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium (see report, left).
Widnes’s first away trip takes them to Championship side Halifax who finished their own regular season strongly with wins over Featherstone Rovers, Toulouse Olympique and Hull Kingston Rovers.
The Vikings played Halifax in The Qualifiers in 2015 when they triumphed 14-0 in a hard-fought game at The Shay.
Further away fixtures at Leigh Centurions and Hull KR after the break for the Challenge Cup Final on August 26 are likely to be pivotal in deciding where Widnes will be playing their rugby league in 2018.
Vikings fans will be hoping that by the time their team visit Catalans Dragons in the seventh and final round of The Qualifiers, Super League status will have been secured.
The top three sides in the eight-team league will play in Super League next year, the bottom three will start 2018 in the Championship and the teams in fourth and fifth place will compete in the Million Pound Game for the final top flight place.
Widnes head coach Denis Betts commented: “I think Warrington is a really good start for us though I’m sure they’ll be looking at it the same way.
“Being at home on Friday night, it gives us a good focus point. ●
“The first three fixtures are pretty good with two home games and two Championship sides in that first block.
“We have to be focused on getting a good start and getting some points on the board.
“We seem to have run into Halifax a few times over recent years and they’re our first away game.
“We’ve played them in the Challenge Cup and we went there in The Qualifiers a couple of years ago. It’s not a long trip and it’s a good place to start our away campaign.
“It would be good if by the time we go to Catalans we’re already in a good place but whatever the circumstances we’ll be looking to round things off in The Qualifiers with a good performance.” ● Widnes Vikings are offering a Super 8s Qualifiers package giving access to all three home games against Warrington, Featherstone and London plus Stronghold Membership for the remainder of 2017.
The package is available at £50 for adults or £35 for concessions. Junior packages are available for £25 which also gives young supporters access to away fixtures in The Qualifiers. Stronghold Members receive local discounts at the likes of Reel Cinemas, Nandos, Pizza Hut and many more.
To take advantage of the offer, visit the Vikings Superstore in Tesco Extra (Widnes), or call the ticket line on 0151-495 2250 (option 2).
Vikings’ Qualifiers Fixtures ● Friday, August 4: Warrington Wolves (H) ● Sunday, August 13: Halifax (A) ● Sunday, August 20: Featherstone Rovers (H) ● Sunday, September 3: Leigh Centurions (A) ● Sunday, September 10: Hull Kingston Rovers (A) ● Sunday, September 17: London Broncos (H) ● Saturday, September 23: Catalans Dragons (A)