Widnes Vikings made another successful trip to the North East, defeating League 1 side Newcastle Thunder 34-8 at Kingston Park.
Following on from the memorable Magic Weekend win over Salford at St James’ Park last May, cheered on by thousands of Vikings supporters wearing special edition shirts in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Widnes continued their pre-season preparations with a solid victory.
The youthful Vikings side ran in six tries in a game that they controlled from virtually start to finish.
On the artificial pitch at Kingston Park, which Thunder share with Aviva Premiership rugby union side Newcastle Falcons, Widnes took less than a minute to get on the scoresheet.
After Olly Ashall’s kick-off, Thunder played out the first set and the kick was charged down by Ted Chapelhow, and although Thunder recovered the ball, Ryan Ince plucked an interception to race home from 30 metres unopposed.
That triggered a dominant opening period from the Vikings, with kicks from Danny Walker and Jordan Johnstone, both well chased by Sam Freeman, keeping the hosts pegged back in their own half.
Loose forward Brad Walker, this week announced in the England Academy squad alongside team-mates Olly Ashall and Liam Walsh, then put Jay Chapelhow through a hole and his pass to Joe Lyons took the Vikings within a few metres.
Although that phase came to nothing, they were soon over for a second try of the afternoon on nine minutes.
Johnstone carried the ball to the line and got a pass out to Ashall, who stepped away from his man and showed him a clean pair of heels before finding Johnstone on the inside to get past the full-back. Ed Chamberlain hit the post with a fairly straight forward conversion attempt, the only blotch to his copybook on the day.
It took 11 minutes of the match before Thunder even managed a play the ball in Vikings territory, off the back of the penalty, such was the dominance of the visitors.
The Vikings first penalty of the afternoon, for a high tackle on Brad Walker, led to their third try on 14 minutes. Danny Walker was out sharply from the first couple of play the balls, and his pass to Ashall got Widnes within two metres. A sharp pass from dummy half enabled Brad Walker to crash over from close range to stretch the lead to 14-0.
Newcastle’s first foray to the Widnes end zone shortly before the 20 minute mark resulted in them forcing a drop out, as they started to feel a way in to the game.
At the other end, Johnstone and Danny Walker continued to kick well and keep Newcastle starting their sets of six from deep.
As half time approached, a strong drive by Jay Chapelhow took Widnes close again and the quick play the ball enabled Josh Houghton to dive over for the fourth try and make it 22-0 at the break.
Thunder were always likely to come out stronger after the break, particularly as Denis Betts and Brett Hodgson shuffled their pack, but the scoring continued on 46 minutes when stand-off Lyons stepped off his left foot and took advantage of a gaping hole in the defence to cross for the first of his two tries.
The Widnes line was finally breached on 55 minutes, Josh Kittrick’s extravagant offload enabling Thunder to take advantage of an overlap on the right hand side, with Ali Blair eventually touching down in the right corner.
That was followed by Thunder’s best period of the game, though Widnes managed to stem the tide and added their sixth try shortly after the hour mark.
Jack Houghton’s drive and offload sent Josh Houghton scurrying away, and with the defence unset off the play-the-ball, Lyons was able to grubber through and it bounced up kindly for him to compete with the full back and force his way touch down, Freeman adding the extras to make it 34-4.
In front of a 1231-strong crowd, Thunder at least gave the home fans the final cheer of the afternoon, their man of the match Dan Parker striding in from close range down the left after the ball had come loose in the tackle.
The Vikings are next in action against Halifax at the Select Security Stadium on Sunday (3pm).
Newcastle Thunder: Jake Woods, Peter Fox, Dan Turland, Joe Brown, Ali Blair, Josh Kittrick, Benn Hardcastle, Rhys Clarke, Evan Simons, Fran Welsh, Harry Aldous, Sam Luckley, Craig Boot. Subs: Paddy Hargreaves, Dan Parker, Lee Fewlass, Ryan Millington, Josh Stoker, Alex Bielby, Craig Cook, Adam Bielby, Sam Stephenson, David Weetman, Aidan McCallion, Michael Ridley, Kieran Bruce, Sandy Rae.
Tries: Blair, Parker.
Widnes Vikings: Olly Ashall, Ryan Ince, Ed Chamberlain, Keenan Brand, Sam Freeman, Joe Lyons, Jordan Johnstone, Ted Chapelhow, Danny Walker, Jay Chapelhow, Liam Walsh, Jack Houghton, Brad Walker. Subs: Connor Parker, Dan Norman, Josh Houghton, Jack Armstrong, Louis Glover, Lloyd Roby, Jake Alder, James Rutledge.
Tries: Ince, Johnstone, B Walker, Josh Houghton, Lyons 2.
Goals: Chamberlain 4/5, Freeman 1/1
Referee: Gareth Hewer
Attendance: 1,231
