Panthers succumb to Vikings’ ruthless performance

The Betfred Championship clash proved to be a try fest for the Vikings, with Joe Edge and Ryan Ince each completing a hat-trick for the home side who broke the deadlock on 15 minutes when Edge latched onto a short pass from Jack Owens to open his account.

Widnes extended their lead 10 minutes later when a move along the line ended with Ince barging over the line.

The home side had their tails up and they launched another raid on the Panthers’ line. The defence initially held out but the pressure eventually told when Mike Butt crossed the whitewash on the left.

Widnes turned the screw with a flurry of tries just before the break that gave them a commanding 32-0 lead at half-time.

Ince grabbed his second try of the day before Adam Lawton powered over from close range. A deft chip from Tom Gilmore found Ince and his kick ahead fell into the hands of Jack Owens, who rounded off a fine move and dominant first half display from the hosts.

Widnes kept their foot on the gas on the resumption and 13 minutes into the second half, Ince raced onto a clever pass from Gilmore to complete his hat-trick.

Edge evaded the visitors’ defence to score his second and he registered the second hat-trick of the day five minutes from time when he burst through the line and outpaced the covering defence to race through and score.

Just before the full-time hooter, Butt’s short pass released Owens and he sped away for his second of the afternoon to round off a thoroughly dominant display from Allan Coleman’s side.

Widnes Vikings: Connell, Butt, Edge, Owens, Ince, Hayes, Gilmore, Murray, Johnstone, McWhirter, Roberts, Wilde, Hall. Interchanges: Fozard, Langtree, Lawton, Chapelhow.

Halifax Panthers: Crooks, Will, Forster, McComb, Lindsey, Soric, O’Brien, Calcott, Halafihi, Salabio, McCarron, Fairbank, Connor Davies. Interchanges: Curtis Davies, Morgan, Gittens, Carter.