Widnes' hooker Phil Cantillon smashed Ellery Hanley's world record for the most tries scored in a season by a forward on Sunday when he grabbed a superb first-half hat trick, writes Jim Richardson.

Rugby League legend Hanley became a world-beater when he notched up 41 tries for Leeds during the Yorkshire sides 1994 1995 league campaign.

But the six-year-old record fell during the Vikings 72-18 demolition of Chorley Lynx at the Auto Quest Stadium at the weekend, when Cantillon broke free to cross the line for his third try in the space of 14 minutes.

Cantillons sporting landmark fittingly came in front of a vocal home crowd of more than 3,500 spectators, who gave their star man a standing ovation when the record fell.

Widnes in-form hooker had moved to within two tries of equalling the world record four days earlier when the Vikings visited Batley on Wednesday night and earned a hard-fought 15-36 win against the Bulldogs.

This game followed Cantillons five-try blitz at Swinton a week earlier during Widnes 0-62 drubbing of the struggling Lions.

To add to the celebrations, the Vikings win also secured the team second place in the Northern Ford Premiership, above Oldham, who did not play on Sunday and have a game in hand over Widnes.

The Roughyeds will travel to 11th placed Whitehaven on Sunday, June 16, where a win would put them a point ahead of the Vikings, who have a well-earned break at the weekend.