Widnes Vikings 31

Warrington Wolves 10

SUNDAY'S performance and result came like an unexpected blow below the belt.

And frustratingly it came nine days after one of the team's best displays in two years when Wigan Warriors were smashed at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

After that Wigan success enthusiasm and confidence for a clash with another bitter rival just six days after Widnes' record 70-point defeat at Hull should have been guaranteed.

But Wolves were woeful and criminally lacking fire in the belly.

That is the last thing a side should be missing in a 'derby' and it was all the incentive Widnes needed to take the game by the scruff of the neck early in the second half of what was generally an error-riddled and dour struggle.

How could the Wolves players let the fans down like this?

Supporters have heavily backed the team this year with home attendances averaging 2,500 per game higher than last season.

An estimated 3,500 Wolves fans packed into the Halton stadium to passionately get behind their idols' attempts to make amends for the Good Friday loss at home to Widnes.

It was a crying shame the passion and hunger was not matched on the field.

The powerhouse forward drives so evident this year were missing in the main.

Very little creativity came from half backs Lee Briers and Nathan Wood, neither of whom were 100 per cent fit during the game, and when the three-quarters received possession they did so with numbers marking them.

Quite simply, Wolves did not have enough willing personnel to do the groundwork before the fancy stuff could take over.

When odd chances did present themselves, Wolves squandered them.

Graham Appo, the club's top try scorer last season who was three games into his comeback from hamstring trouble, looked totally disinterested on the right wing and bombed a try in the first two minutes when he juggled and spilled the ball after it had sat up well for him from a Briers grubber kick.

Wolves, thanks to a Mike Forshaw try off an initial Briers break down the middle, were in the hunt up until half-time and then failed to score a point after the break.

Widnes dominated in terms of possession and territory in the third quarter and two tries in 10 minutes put them 18-10 clear.

A rare excursion into Widnes territory when a superb Jon Clarke feed put Mike Wainwright clear raised hopes but Nat Wood, who could do no wrong the week before against Wigan, was unable to hold the second rower's pass 10 metres from the try line.

A Widnes 40-20 and resultant drop goal sunk Wolves' heads and Widnes scored two easy late tries to rub salt into the wounds of the Warrington spectators that were still left in the ground.

Match facts

Tetley's Super League IX, Round 13, June 6, 2004

Widnes Vikings 31

Warrington Wolves 10

Vikings: Deon Bird; Nicky Royle, Aaron Moule, Adam Hughes, Chris Giles; Jules O'Neill, Stephen Myler; Robert Relf, Shane Millard, Julian O'Neill, Andy Hay, Troy Wozniak, Simon Finnigan. Subs used: David Mills, Stephen Rowlands, Steve McCurrie, Daniel Frame.

Wolves: Daryl Cardiss; Graham Appo, Brent Grose, Ben Westwood, Dean Gaskell; Lee Briers, Nathan Wood; Paul Wood, Jon Clarke, Mark Hilton, Paul Noone, Mike Wainwright, Mike Forshaw. Subs used: Mark Gleeson, Danny Lima, Chris Leikvoll, Ian Sibbit.

Referee: Bob Connolly

Attendance: 8,315

Interesting note: Widnes become the first team to complete the league double over Warrington this season.

Scoring: Briers penalty goal, 10mins, 0-2; Hughes intercepts Briers' long pass for a 60m try, 14mins, Jules O'Neill converts, 6-2; Briers penalty goal, 20mins, 6-4; Forshaw on hand to finish off burst by Briers and Gleeson, 34mins, Briers adds the extras, 6-10; Jules O'Neill penalty success, 40mins, 8-10. Half-time. Royle squeezes over in the corner, 45mins, 12-10; Millard dummies and dives over from acting half back, 55mins, Jules O'Neill converts, 18-10; Jules O'Neill drop goal, 28mins, 19-10; Hay slips out of Appo's grasp to touch down, 64mins, O'Neill hits the mark, 25-10; Hughes touches down his second try, 44mins, Myler goals, 31-10.

Penalties: Vikings 10 Wolves 9

Scrums: Vikings 6 Wolves 4

Warrington Guardian top men: Forshaw 3pts, Wainwright 2pts, Hilton 1pt. Points will be accumulated throughout the season.

Other Super League round 13 results: Bradford 12 Leeds 26, Castleford 18 Hull 52, Wakefield 48 London 18, Salford 18 Huddersfield 25, Wigan 30 St Helens 14.

Super League round 14 fixtures: Tomorrow, Friday: Leeds v Widnes (Sky 8pm), St Helens v Castleford. Saturday: Warrington v London (Sky 4pm). Sunday: Salford v Bradford, Hull v Wakefield, Wigan v Huddersfield.