Vikings show their attacking potential (From Warrington Guardian)

Vikings show their attacking potential

Widnes Vikings 48

Leigh Centurions 26

WIDNES Vikings showed some of their attacking potential as they ran in nine tries against Leigh Centurions at Halton Stadium.

A final score line of 48-26 didn't flatter the Vikings who took the opportunity to put a marker down against one of the favourites for relegation.

It wasn't the friendliest of 'friendlies' and was punctuated by several punch-ups.

Widnes second-row John Stankevitch twice found himself in the sin-bin along with Leigh duo Kent and Wilkes.

The Vikings opened the scoring on three minutes when Daniel Frame brushed aside a Leigh defender before sending Shane Millard under the posts. An Owen Craigie crosskick was latched on to by the lively Aaron Moule to increase the Vikings lead to 12-0 with Stephen Myler adding both conversions.

The visitors hit back with a similar score when one-time Vikings target Jason Ferris's kick ended up in the arms of standoff Phil Jones.

Widnes were quick to respond when Millard scrambled over for his second and a flat pass put in Gary Connolly from the excellent Craigie. It looked like plain sailing for the Vikings and maybe they thought so too.

A couple of lapses in concentration allowed the Centurions back into the contest with two tries before half time which made it 22-14. Stung into action, Widnes took the game by the scruff of the neck in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Craigie romped over after a one-two with Gary Hulse and another Hulse break set up the position for substitute Paul Ballard to squeeze in at the corner.

The impressive Mark Smith did the spadework to set up a score for Tim Holmes and Misili Manu found himself with all the time in the world to gather and touch down after another Craigie crosskick. Leigh found enough spirit to pull a couple of tries back but the Vikings had the final word when substitute Jon Whittle crossed wide out.

Widnes coach Frank Endacott will be reasonably satisfied with this showing but there are stiffer tests to come.

Widnes: Connolly; Manu; Moule; Hughes; Rowlands; Craigie; Myler; O'Connor; Millard; O'Neill; Stankevitch; Cassidy; Frame; Subs: Hulse; Ballard; Whittle; Nash; Finnigan; Whitaker; Fa'alogo; Mills; Emelio; Smith; Holmes.