The Vikings’ five-match winning run came to an end this afternoon after a 16-14 defeat to Halifax Panthers at the Shay.

Allan Coleman’s side couldn’t overcome a 14-point halftime deficit as their playoff aspirations came to an end in West Yorkshire.

Halifax took the lead early through the boot of Jack Hansen after Widnes were caught offside.

The Vikings were close to grabbing the opening score of the game as Ben Condon gathered Dec Patton’s grubber kick only to be held up over the line.

On the next set, the Panthers extended the lead, breaking from dummy half with Adam O’Brien, who found the supporting Ben Tibbs to race the length for the try.

A missed conversion from Hansen kept it a one-score game, but a late hit from the Vikings allowed Halifax to kick a penalty goal and extend the lead to eight.

The hosts further solidified their control with ten minutes to go as Adam Tangata took a short pass to crash over.

Adam Lawton was shown a yellow card late in the half for lying on in the tackle after repeat offences, but strong defence kept Halifax at bay.

The Vikings responded early in the second half as Matty Fozard burrowed his way over from dummy half for a textbook hookers’ try.

Halifax would add a penalty goal on the hour mark to re-establish an eight-point lead after Fozard was pulled up for a dubious-looking high tackle.

Widnes gave themselves a lifeline late on as Joe Edge finished a neat passing move in the corner to cut the deficit to just two points.

The comeback fell short in the dying stages, however, as Mike Butt couldn’t latch on to Patton’s crossfield kick, with the hosts holding on to consign the Vikings to a 16-14 defeat.

We will look to sign the season off with victory against London Broncos at the DCBL Stadium next Sunday. Tickets are available HERE.

 

TEAMS AND SCORERS

Halifax Panthers: Nofoaluma, Graham, Crooks, Johnson, Tibbs, Woodburn-Hall, Hansen, Douglas, O’Brien, Dixon, Tangata, McComb, Fairbank

Interchanges: Halafihi, Jouffret, Calcott, Davies, Graham (18th)

Tries: Tibbs, Tangata

Goals: Hansen x4

 

Widnes Vikings: Edge, Butt, Owens, Fleming, Bennison, Patton, Gilmore, Murray, Johnstone, Bent, Roberts, Condon, Gregson

Interchanges: McWhirter, Fozard, Lawton, Bibby, Ince (18th)

Tries: Fozard, Edge

Goals: Patton x3