Widnes Vikings continue unbeaten start to 2022 with win over Dewsbury – talking points

Widnes Vikings returned to the top of the Championship table following a 36-10 victory over Dewsbury Rams at the Tetley’s Stadium.

40-year-old Paul Sykes was named in the halves for the hosts alongside Matty Beharrell, as Dewsbury went into the game with one win in the opening three rounds.

Danny Craven missed out for the Vikings, while Ste Tyrer returned to the team named in the centres. Shane Grady also returned from injury, starting on the bench.

Calum Turner left the field just 90 seconds into the match with an ankle injury.

Lloyd Roby opened the scoring five minutes into the clash. An early kick from Joe Lyons found space behind the defensive line for Roby to collect and score under the sticks. Tyrer adding the extras for a 6-0 lead. 

Dewsbury hit back on 20 minutes through Harry Kidd. Off-season signing Beharrell dummied the defence to break the line and he found Kidd in support to crash over for a 6-6 score. Beharrell converting for the Rams.

Roby restored his side’s advantage on the half hour mark, with Tyrer converting for a 12-6 score.

Former Workington utility Brad Holroyd crossed on 36 minutes but solid defence forced him into touch. 

A kick to the corner from Sykes was collected by Keenen Tomlinson on 38 minutes. Beharrell hit the post from his conversion attempt out-wide which saw Widnes go into the break with a two-point advantage. 

HT: Dewsbury 10-12 Widnes

Holroyd did score for a try on 43 minutes. Back-rower Adam Lawton broke through the line to find his winger in support for a 18-10 score. 

Tyler Dupree crossed for his second try of the season on 59 minutes thanks to a lovely short pass from Matty Fozard.

Lyons secured the victory on 68 minutes following a team try, before powering back-rower Lawton forced his way over on 74 minutes for a 36-10 full-time score.

FT: Dewsbury 36-10 Widnes

Widnes Vikings: Roby, Ince, Fleming, Tyrer, Holroyd, Lyons, Smith, Baker, Fozard, Dupree, Wilde, Davies, Brown.

Subs: Doro, Grady, Lawton, Hulme.

Tries: Roby (2), Holroyd, Dupree, Lyons, Lawton.

Goals: Tyrer 6

Dewsbury Rams: Turner, Gabriel, Graham, Dixon, Carr, Beharrell, Sykes, Beckett, Speakman, Kidd, Tomlinson, Ryder, Magrin.

Bench: Butterworth, Peltier, Stevens, Schofield.

Tries: Kidd, Tomlinson.

Goals: Beharrell 1

Talking points

Widnes in the title race?

Could Widnes see themselves as real contenders for promotion in 2022?

Simon Finnigan’s side have now claimed wins over London Broncos, Workington, Halifax and Dewsbury in 2022. They face Leigh live on Premier Sports next Monday in their toughest challenge yet.

Pitch inspections

The tough conditions saw Dewsbury finish the game with no substitutes left on the bench.

Just four Championship games survived Storm Eunice over the weekend. Despite muddy conditions, credit to all groundsmen helping their games go ahead.

Adam Lawton shines

Try-scorer Lawton was named man of the match on Premier Sports. The former Salford forward has impressed during his second stint with Widnes, having returned for the 2021 campaign.

Standing 6 ft 7 in, Lawton is one of the most powerful back-rowers currently in the Championship competition.