Widnes 30
Halifax 40
HALIFAX lit the blue touchpaper on their National League One season with brilliant, resilient win at the Stobart Stadium.
Victory, which arrived courtesy of a tenacious second half defensive effort and some typically scintillating attacking play, keeps Matt Calland's second-placed side a paltry point behind Salford at the top of the ladder.
On a scalding hot day, Fax came from 18-6 down against Steve McCormack's big-spending full timers, dominating the final 60 minutes on their way to a sensational win.
On the ground where their 2007 campaign ended one game shy of a Grand Final, this was a real watershed victory for Calland's troops, finally proving that they have what it takes to triumph away from home against a team that, despite their pre season points deduction, are genuine title contenders.
Fax's pack, unrecognisable from the unit so comprehensively outpointed at Sheffield last week, responded superbly to a week of soul searching and criticism, eventually crushing a classy Vikings six.
Props Frank Watene, Dana Wilson and Danny Heaton all had their best games of the year so far, Richard Varkulis was dangerous and tireless in the back row and Shad Royston plundered another hat trick of tries from loose forward.
It was Royston who opened the try scoring after just four minutes, centre Mike Ratu making the break down the right and the Australian looming late in support to go under the posts and eclipse Richard Fletcher's first-minute penalty for Widnes.
Graham Holroyd added the first of his eight successful kicks for a 6-2 lead, only for Widnes to come straight back in the 11th minute when on loan St Helens back Ian Hardman skipped over wide on Fax's left hand side after the Vikings managed to successfully isolate Holroyd.
Fax's penchant for high-risk rugby league then came back to bite them, full back Miles Greenwood's pass to Paul Southern going astray on half way and Widnes capitalising a minute later through another on loan Saint, debutant, centre Chris Dean.
Fletcher goaled for 12-6 and five minutes later Dean was in again, Vikings loose forward Bob Beswick producing a typically slick pass to send the rangy threequarter haring away down the left to score.
Fletcher goaled from touch, and at 18-6 Fax were suddenly in a bit of a hole.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man, and when Calland sent returning skipper Sean Penkywicz into the battle, this game turned well and truly on its head.
Fax's star number nine has been out for the last month with a broken hand, but looked razor sharp from the moment he stepped off the bench.
Fax's own loanee, young Wigan Warrior Thomas Coyle, had done a fine job around the play the ball considering he had only the briefest of training sessions with his new teammates on Saturday morning.
But with Penkywicz on, Fax were suddenly cutting their opponents to shreds down the middle of the field.
They quickly pulled a try back when Holroyd sent Miles Greenwood stretching over in the 23rd minute.
And when Penkywicz scurried clear just after the half hour, Varkulis was in support to claim the touchdown.
Holroyd levelled the scores at 18-18, although Lee Paterson's dummy half plunge for Widnes just before the break, goaled by Fletcher, looked to have given the home side an interval lead.
Holroyd hoisted the short kick off though, Penkywicz made yet another break and, on the next tackle, produced a perfect short ball for the onrushing Royston to claim his second score.
Holroyd tied the scores again, and when Fletcher fouled Black three minutes into the second half, Holroyd put Fax 26-24 ahead.
And in the 55th minute, the visitors got the try they craved, James Haley producing a brilliant 60 metre dash and Royston just beating Ratu to Holroyd's sliderule kick.
The stand off added the goal and a penalty soon after for 34-24 as Widnes' discipline deteriorated alarmingly.
There was the odd scare, Jon Goddard sprinting back to retrieve Dean Gaskell's kick ahead being the most notable, but generally Fax looked in total control.
A blistering long range move 13 minutes from the end promised much but came to nought when great scrambling defence from Widnes stopped Holroyd finding the killer pass.
Widnes then set up a thrilling finale, Hardman scoring his second after a long break by full back Scott Yates.
Fletcher cut the gap to 34-30, but Fax would not be denied and with four minutes left came up with a real gem: Haley, Varkulis and Royston all combining for Miles Greenwood to clinch the points.

MATCH FACTS
Widnes: Scott Yates; Dean Gaskell, Ian Hardman, Chris Dean, Gavin Dodd; Lee Paterson, John Duffy; Iain Morrison, Mark Smith, Adel Fellous, Richard Fletcher, Paul Noone, Bob Beswick. Subs: Steve Roper, Jim Gannon, Danny Hill, Ben Kavanagh.
Tries: Hardman (2), Dean (2), Paterson
Goals: Fletcher (5)

Halifax: Miles Greenwood; James Haley, Jon Goddard, Mike Ratu, Lee Greenwood; Graham Holroyd, Ben Black; Paul Southern, Thomas Coyle, Dana Wilson, David Larder, Richard Varkulis, Shad Royston. Subs: Sean Penkywicz, Lee Patterson (not used), Danny Heaton, Frank Watene.
Tries: M. Greenwood (2), Royston (3), Varkulis
Goals: Holroyd (8)

Referee: Mike Dawber (Wigan)
Attendance: 3,971

STARMAN
Last week, looking for outstanding individual performances in the Fax line up was like looking for a needle in a hay stack.
Yesterday, you could almost take any three from 17.
But while this win was primarily about teamwork, one player stood out as being the best on the park for either side.
Sean Penkywicz, returning after a month's absence with a broken hand, was only on the field for around 35 minutes but he was arguably the difference between the two teams.
His first spell in particular was nothing short of electric, with some brilliant running and astute passing tearing Widnes apart.
Judging by the way he was clutching his hand at one point, Penkywicz's injury is still causing him some discomfort.
But this was the clearest evidence yet: Fax need him.
Two points go to Dana Wilson, who posted easily his best performance since his close season switch from Leigh.
The big Cook Islander will never be capable of playing big minutes, but he was hugely effective with the ball yesterday, making plenty of ground and getting quick play the balls.
His 40 metre dash in the second half was probably worth the admission money alone.
The final point in the season-long Star Man competition goes to Richard Varkulis, who is making a real fist of his switch to the back row.
Varkulis produced some great running and capped a fine performance with a first half try.

PLAYER POINTS
James Haley 13, Sean Penkywicz 12, Paul Smith 11, Graham Holroyd 11, Craig Kopczak 8, Andy Smith 8, Lee Patterson 7, Janan Billings 7, Jon Goddard 6, Shad Royston 5, Dana Wilson 5, Dave Larder 4, Paul Southern 4, Miles Greenwood 3, Mike Ratu 3, Frank Watene 2, Andy Gorski 2, Mick Govin 2, Richard Varkulis 1

YOU SAY
shad is my hero . Well done fax but need to tackle. Inoffski
Fantastic performance fax. We put the full timers in their place! Keep it up! Anon
well fax cant complain about that ! Great team effort ! Get in there ! From ackers
Fantastic fax. The game at sheffield probably did us good. Its great to win at widnes! Yipee! Clare, brighouse

STAT ATTACK
Widnes
First half
Completions: 12/16
Penalties: 3
Second half
Completions: 12/17
Penalties: 1

Fax
First half
Completions: 10/17
Penalties: 4
Second half
Completions: 15/22
Penalties: 7