Barring the near impossible, a sixty point Wakefield win at Sheffield coupled with a similar losing margin for the Widnes Vikings against the Leigh Centurions, there was nothing to play for in the final Sunday of Super 8s Qualifiers.
With Widnes safely back in Super League for 2016 they could enjoy themselves with a home game against a Leigh Centurions side with a point to prove to themselves and their supporters after a very disappointing 'Qualifiers' series. While a Super League scalp wouldn't ease the pain it would set the Centurions up for their 2016 campaign.
The Select Security Stadium was the venue as both sides looked to end 2015 on a high.
It was the visitors who got off to a flier in the bright Widnes sunshine, opening the scoring through a Ben Reynolds try, collecting a Liam Kay kick through to ground after five minutes. In the absence of Ridyard the try was converted by Ryan Brierley.
Widnes, through a walk in try from Patrick Ah Van off a Kevin Brown pass, opened their account in the sixteenth minute. Danny Tickle slid the conversion wide from the left touchline. Eight minutes later and Widnes were in front thanks to a determined effort from Kevin Brown which saw him crash over by the right upright. Tickle added the extras for 10-6.
An awful high tackle by Gareth Hock saw him yellow carded by referee Kendall and sitting out the remainder of half. With a man extra it took Widnes just two minutes to extend their lead when Kevin Brown was again provider to put Charly Runciman through a gap to score. Tickle missed what looked to be a simple conversion but the game was going to the Widnes game plan.
With seconds left in the half Leigh fumbled the ball on their own twenty and Liam Flynn managed to push his way past four Leigh defenders off a Danny Tickle pass. Tickle managed to kick the touchline conversion for a commanding 20-6 half-time lead.
Widnes started the second half as they had ended the first when a crabbing run from Manase Manuokafoa saw him offload to Alex Gerrard who walked through a gap to ground under the sticks. Tickle converted for 26-6 and Leigh's Qualifiers misery continued.
On fifty-seven a suicidal Hock offload was picked up by Kevin Brown who fed Reece Hanbury on the Widnes twenty and the Vikings full-back went eighty metres to score. Tickle hit the target for 32-6.
Joe Mellor was next on the score list for the Vikings as Leigh seemed to be going backwards. Mellor threw two dummies before walking under the sticks without a Leigh hand on him. Tickle again kicked the goal.
Ah Van added his second of the afternoon as he ran in down the left wing. Jack Owens converted from the touchline for 44-6 and it was becoming a drubbing.
Jack Owens brought up the Widnes fifty in the last minute with a forty metre solo try down the right wing. Owens added the two, again from the touchline.
This was a clinical performance from the Vikings and a game too far for a jaded and disappointed Leigh Centurions. There was only ever one team in the game and the Vikings put the Centurions to the sword to end a successful Qualifiers campaign. Leigh will spend the off season licking their wounds and preparing for their attack on qualification for 2017 Super League during next seasons Qualifiers.
Vikings: Hanbury (T), Flynn (T), Dean, Runciman (T), Ah Van (2T), Brown (T), Mellor (T), Gerrard (T), Heremaia, Manuokafoa, Whitley, Tickle (5G), Cahill. Subs: Owens (T, 2G), White, Dudson, Chapelhow.
Centurions: McNally, Pownall, Worthington, Armstrong, Kay, Reynolds (T), Brierley (G), Spencer, Higham, Wilkes, Hock, Goulden, Beswick. Subs: Foster, Moimoi, Dixon, Emmitt.
Referee: Chris Kendall
Attendance: 5,550
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