WHAT a difference a week makes.

It took only six minutes to achieve something that passed Wolves by seven days earlier against bottom team Huddersfield – scoring a try!

Tony Smith’s men never looked back as they dominated arch-rivals who have failed to win a league game since losing at Warrington on Good Friday.

Everything about this Wire display was in contrast to that 11-0 defeat at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Energy levels were up, stand off Kurt Gidley was in charge with good support from creative partner Stefan Ratchford, and there seemed to be a purpose about every play with the ball.

Defensively they were as good, if not better, than of late and they were particularly strong at shutting down Vikings playmaker Kevin Brown and the options he had around him.

The stand off must still be feeling two particular smashes from Gidley and Chris Hill.

With the Vikings threats neutralised, Wolves set about building on the early six-point advantage provided by Gidley using Hill as a foil and gliding over from first receiver.

It was a sign of things to come, with Wolves’ powerhouse middle men exploiting weakness in the Widnes ruck area to the full.

Wolves’ pack men were so much on top that Tony Smith elected to keep skipper and England prop Hill off the field for 45 minutes to keep him fresher for a tougher contest with Wigan this week.

Widnes’ defence was so condensed in attempts to counteract the punishing work in centre field that a long pass from Ben Currie sent Kevin Penny home on the outside of Corey Thompson for try number two.

As Denis Betts’ men attempted to stamp out repeated success out wide, two Joe Westerman tries sandwiched one from Ben Westwood – all down the middle – as the heart was ripped of the hosts.

At 30-6 at half time the game was over, but still time for Penny to grab a second as Ratchford’s influence grew.

The scrum half ended up with a late double himself as reward for supporting breaks by Westerman and Rhys Evans.

And when he landed the eighth goal success, backing up Gidley’s previous seven from seven, a good night’s work was complete.

INTERESTING NOTES:

Wolves complete Super League double over Vikings for first time since 2012

Most points Wolves have scored in an away match since 82-10 dressing down of London Broncos at Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham, on June 8, 2013

MATCH FACTS:

Super League Round 12, Friday, April 22, 2016

Widnes Vikings...16 Warrington Wolves...48

Vikings: Rhys Hanbury; Corey Thompson, Chris Bridge, Charly Runciman, Stefan Marsh; Kevin Brown, Joe Mellor; Eamon O’Carroll, Lloyd White, Gil Dudson, Chris Dean, Chris Houston, Hep Cahill. Subs: Aaron Heremaia, Manese Manuokafoa, Setaimata Sa, Macgraff Leuluai.

Wolves: Matty Russell; Jack Johnson, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Kevin Penny; Kurt Gidley, Stefan Ratchford; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Joe Westerman. Subs: Ben Westwood, George King, Benjamin Jullien, Jordan Cox.

Scoring: Gidley try, 6mins, Gidley goal, 0-6; Penny try, 11mins, Gidley goal, 0-12; Mellor try, 14mins, Hanbury goal, 6-12; Westerman try, 18mins, Gidley goal, 6-18; Westwood try, 34mins, Gidley goal, 6-24; Westerman try, 39mins, Gidley goal, 6-30; Thompson try, 46mins, 10-30; Penny try, 57mins, Gidley goal, 10-36; Ratchford try, 63mins, Gidley goal, 10-42; Marsh try, 66mins, Hanbury goal, 16-42; Ratchford try, 77mins, Ratchford goal, 16-48.

Penalties: Vikings 4 Wolves 7

Referee: Robert Hicks

Attendance: 7,441

Top Man: Kurt Gidley