Sep 8

Widnes Vikings 6-12 York Knights: Match Report

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York Knights moved into the top six of the Betfred Championship with a 12-6 win over Widnes Vikings at the DCBL Stadium.

It was a win earned with just 12 men on the pitch for the last 16 minutes, after Jacob Gannon was sent off for a high tackle.

The fifth consecutive victory puts them into the play off places for the first time this season, and one point off Widnes, who remain in fourth place.

The Knights opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes, with a penalty from Nikau Williams right in front of the sticks.

They extended that lead soon afterwards, when Brad Ward picked up a kick through from Ata Hingano. He fed Joe Law who crossed for his fifth try in Knights colours. Williams again was successful with the conversion.

Another penalty for the Knights as Widnes were caught offside allowed Williams to add a further two points, and they led 10-0 with just over a quarter of the game gone.

Greasy conditions meant handling errors were common, and the rest of the half without the scoreboard being troubled again.

Both York and Widnes had been in good defensive form going into the game, and with points hard to come by, the first try after the break could have proved crucial.

After another period where the teams struggled to get any fluency, that try went the way of the Vikings.

Mike Butt picked up a grubber from Jack Owens to score in the corner, but too far out for Tom GIlmore to convert.

Another Williams penalty, this time for a high tackle, put York back in front by eight points as the game reached the hour mark.

With 16 minutes to go, York’s task of seeing the game out and taking the win got harder.

A high tackle on Mike Butt from the Knights’ Jacob Gannon led to a scuffle on the pitch which ultimately saw Gannon sent off.

When Gilmore converted a penalty with 10 minutes to go to reduce the deficit to six points, it set up a nervy finish.

Hingano missed with a drop goal attempt that would have made sure of the win, but York managed to hang on for another victory away from home.

Widnes: Owens, Butt, Bardsley-Rowe, Fleming, Ince, Lyons, Gilmore, Bent, Johnstone, Murray, Lloyd, Grady, Lannon

Subs: Fozard, Brooks, Kirk, Roberts

18th Player: Green

Tries: Butt (53)

Goals: Gilmore