Widnes Vikings 42 - Hull FC 16

Saturday 18th August 2012

Story in brief:

Widnes Vikings 42 - Hull FC 16

Report by Ian Cheveau

Image by Ste Jones



Widnes winger Willie Isa and veteran full-back Shaun Briscoe bagged try braces as the Vikings smashed Hull FC at the Stobart Stadium.

The Vikings ran in eight tries and there could have been many more as they put sorry Hull to the sword.

Peter Gentle's Hull side were lacklustre in every fashion but Widnes were excellent from start to finish and totally deserved their victory, only their sixth of the season.

Isa and Briscoe, on his return to the line-up after a long injury lay off, were the heroes.
The pair popped up in the right places at the right times to claim crucial scores for Denis Betts' Widnes.

The Vikings have been in good home form on the i-pitch and they helped themselves to another two points, undoing 'hot and cold' Hull who will enter the Stobart Super League play-offs in iffy form.

The Airlie Birds were shell shocked in the first period as Widnes took control despite Jordan Turner opening the scoring.

Widnes hit back with two tries of their own as Isa and Paddy Flynn, making his 100th appearance for the club, crossed for four pointers.

The visitors responded with a powerful effort from Joe Westerman but then Widnes hit them with a sucker punch and two quick-fire tries in the space of 60 seconds.

First the evergreen Briscoe touched down after linking up with Rhys Hanbury and then Cameron Phelps, against his old club, created the try of the game with a delicate dab through which was finished off by big Frank Winterstein.

Widnes kept up the pressure in the second period after securing a 10 point buffer and Danny Craven flew in off a Hull mistake, fly hacking the ball to the line before grounding it.

Willie Isa then helped himself to another as the impressive Phelps offloaded to Hanbury who created the opening for the Kiwi wingman.

The visitors kept their noses in it, just, with an effort on 56 minutes from Aaron Heremaia but it proved to be a consolation effort as Widnes turned on the style.

Briscoe ran in another and Hanbury also sprinted in for a solo score.

The victory keeps the Vikings breathing down the necks of London and Castleford in the basement battle - all clubs aiming to avoid the embarrassment of the wooden spoon.

Denis Betts said "We stuck at our task. Peter (Gentle) will be upset with his players but we are getting better slowly and deserve to have won. Hull couldn't break us down. We were in the fight in the last 20 and we got there.

"We should have had more wins on the board this year and there is a lot to take out of this season, even if we finish bottom. For us it's about what we do over a three year period, not one season. I want a club that the fans are proud of. We have worked damn hard this year and we deserve wins like that.

"Shaun (Briscoe) could have scored a hat trick. His contribution was great. He gives you experience and his all every time he's out there.

"Willie Isa's performances in the last 10 weeks or so have been fantastic. All the players are chuffed for him when he scores as he's been through it. His energy and work ethic is first class.'

Widnes Vikings

1 Shaun Briscoe

2 Paddy Flynn

20 Stefan Marsh

19 Cameron Phelps

4 Willie Isa

25 Danny Craven

7 Rhys Hanbury

10 Ben Davies

13 Jon Clarke

18 John Kite

11 Frank Winterstein

21 Dave Allen

12 Hep Cahill



16 Ben Kavanagh

24 Kurt Haggerty

28 Alex Gerrard

35 Paul McShane



Hull FC

5 Tom Briscoe

39 Tom Lineham

23 Ben Crooks

19 Jordan Turner

40 Jamie Foster

38 Ryan McGoldrick

7 Brett Seymour

37 Liam Watts

9 Danny Houghton

10 Andy Lynch

11 Willie Manu

13 Joe Westerman

34 Jay Pitts



6 Richard Horne

14 Aaron Heremaia

22 Martin Aspinwall

8 Mark O'Meley