Dewsbury Rams unable to overturn 20-point half-time deficit as Widnes Vikings hold on for win

Four first half tries, including two from Ryan Ince and one apiece for Lewis Hall and Nathan Connell, helped the visitors into a 20-0 lead at the break.

And although the Rams fought back in the second half thanks to tries from Dan Coates and Brad Graham, the Vikings held on for a first away Betfred Championship win since February 20.

Paul March’s men have now lost their last three consecutive outings and have not won at home since February 1.

Ince opened the visitors’ account on nine minutes after some neat passing play which saw Thomas Gilmore and the eventual tryscorer combine, before Max Roberts broke through the Rams’ defence to feed Hall for a simple try under the sticks.

Ince then improved Widnes’ score even further with his brace as Jack Owens played him in, and it got worse for Dewsbury on the cusp of the half-time as Connell was first to pounce on a loose ball.

It was a commanding position at the break for the Vikings but Dewsbury started the second half brightly with successive sets close to the Widnes line and it was Coates who got his reward, going over after a flat pass from Jack McShane.

Graham further reduced the deficit with the Rams second try of the afternoon through a long pass from Jacob Hookem, allowing Graham to work his way round the oncoming defence before diving over unopposed.

Dewsbury then came agonisingly close to reducing the scoreline as Widnes conceded successive penalties, but the Rams were unable to find a way through.

Head coach Paul March said after the game: “A game of two halves again. After the performance of the first half, I questioned the attitude of the players at half-time, but being 20 points down at the interval was always going to pose a tough task in the second half.

“I thought we built into the second half, but discipline let us down once again.”