THERE is some value to a mid-season international. Just ask Kevin Brown.

It is fair to say that, since his high-profile arrival at the club, the 32-year-old stand-off has had his critics, but even they would have been singing his name on Sunday.

Faced with jeers and taunts from the Widnes fans who used to idolise him, Brown found the perfect tonic by crossing for three glorious tries.

He left much of the kicking to Dec Patton and took responsibility as the man who took on the line with ball in hand to ultimately prove the difference in a well-contested ‘derby’ match.

Despite a crippling injury list, it cannot be said that Widnes were not game. The fact the game was tied at 20-20 with just under 10 minutes remaining shows that.

Greg Burke had edged them ahead with their first real attack, but Ryan Atkins quickly cancelled that out to continue his good personal form.

Then, once Brown had ripped the ball from Patrick Ah Van’s grasp and forced a professional foul from Rhys Hanbury, Wolves had the perfect opportunity to step on the throats of their vulnerable visitors.

Brown gave them the lead, but their inability to take further advantage of the weight of numbers looked like coming back to haunt them when Widnes flew out of the traps after the break.

James Chapelhow’s reaching effort and Ah Van’s penalty had them ahead again as they exposed a Warrington side that looked as though they were still in the dressing room.

Enter Brown again as he found another gap in his former side’s rearguard to swing momentum back The Wire’s way before Stefan Ratchford kept the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty goal.

However, it looked as if a local boy was going to sway the game the Vikings’ way.

Danny Walker, a former Crosfields junior, scythed through the Wolves defence to set up Ah Van to level the scores, which was probably the least Widnes deserved for their efforts.

As they have done a few times this season, however, The Wire found a way as Brown somehow managed to touch down for his hat-trick despite the attentions of five Widnes defenders.

Matty Russell, who was superb in his own right, produced a brilliant finish in the corner before Kurt Gidley sent Chris Hill through a tiring Vikings defence to add the exclamation point.

So, onwards to Magic Weekend. Are The Wire hitting form at just the right time?

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Wolves have now won their last seven home games against Widnes.

. Matty Russell’s try takes him to 100 points in a Warrington shirt.

MATCH FACTS:

Challenge Cup Sixth Round, Sunday, May 14, 2017

Warrington Wolves…34 Widnes Vikings…20

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Matty Russell, Jack Hughes, Ryan Atkins, Tom Lineham; Kevin Brown, Dec Patton; Chris Hill, Kurt Gidley, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood, Benjamin Jullien, Mike Cooper. Subs: Joe Philbin, Dom Crosby, George King, Morgan Smith.

Vikings: Rhys Hanbury; Lloyd Roby, Charly Runciman, Liam Walsh, Patrick Ah Van; Joe Mellor, Jordan Johnstone; Jack Buchanan, Aaron Heremaia, Gil Dudson, Hep Cahill, Tom Olbison, Greg Burke. Subs: Manase Manuokafoa, Eamon O’Carroll, James Chapelhow, Danny Walker.

Scoring: Burke try, 15mins, Ah Van goal, 0-6; Atkins try, 21mins, Ratchford goal, 6-6; Brown try, 27mins, Ratchford goal, 12-6; Chapelhow try, 45mins, Ah Van goal, 12-12; Ah Van penalty, 51mins, 12-14; Brown try, 52mins, Ratchford goal, 18-14; Ratchford penalty, 62mins, 20-14; Ah Van try, 64mins, Ah Van goal, 20-20; Brown try, 69mins, 24-20; Russell try, 73mins, 28-20; Hill try, 77mins, Ratchford goal, 34-20.

Penalties: Wolves 9 Vikings 7.

Sin bin: Hanbury, 25mins (professional foul).

Referee: James Child.

Attendance: 5.971.

Man of the match (live blog fan’s poll): Kevin Brown.