Widnes Vikings 42-12 defeat to the Sheffield Eagles was just their second defeat of the season. 

The Vikings were 24-0 down inside 20 minutes at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park.

From the first whistle the home side were on the front foot. On eight minutes, winger Matty Dawson-Jones started the onslaught. Corey Aston converted to put The Eagles 6-0 up and set the tone for the rest of the half.

Former Super League winger Ben Jones-Bishop bundled his way over the line for the second try, just five minutes later to make it 12-0.

Olympic Legacy Park. Photo: Callum Maxted

The ever busy Aston was involved again on 17 minutes for the third try, with a clever dummy before finding centre Titus Gwaze who powered over the line.

Dawson-Jones added his second on 25 minutes after The Vikings attempted to move the ball wide. Shane Grady’s offload was intercepted by the flying Eagles winger who carried the ball over the line for a 24-0 lead.

Under pressure from the relentless Eagles, Widnes urgently needed a response. Just before half-time Ryan Ince provided it, running out of the defensive line, wrestling the ball off Jones-Bishop before running 65 metres to touch down and reduce the deficit to eighteen points.

 

Widnes were given a lifeline as Danny Craven dragged the score back to 24-12 in a bright start to the second half. The halfback shook off a tackle to slam the ball down over the line to give The Vikings hope, but having scored the try, Craven’s yellow card antics put their good comeback work to waste.

Craven was sent to the sin bin for trying to delay a quick restart. With a player up, The Eagles looked to cash in on being a player to the good, but they suffered their own sin bin set back when Joel Farrell committed a ruck infringement and followed Craven off the field.

Widnes pressed on creating three chances of their own within the space of five minutes.

Former St Helens player, Jack Owens, appeared to have successfully broken The Eagles’ defensive line but the referee judged he had been held up.

Two minutes later another chance for Widnes went begging to Matty Fozard, but with the line in clear sight, he knocked on to give possession back to Sheffield.

The third close call saw Matt Fleming push for the line but a strong Eagles defence ensured he was held up.

Those missed chances came back to haunt the visitors as Brandon Douglas crashed over the line for the Eagles.

There was more disappointment for Widness when Matty Crimes snatched the ball from a Danny Craven kick and ran the full length of the field to touch down in the corner.

In the 75th minute Cory Aston converted his own score, intercepting a loose Widnes pass and running the length of the field for the final try.

Final score – Sheffield Eagles 42 – 12 Widnes Vikings

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