Fast start lifts Reds
Stobart Super League newcomers Widnes are still searching for their first win of the new season after slumping to a 38-18 defeat by Salford.
Last Updated: 19/02/12 5:34pm
Stobart Super League newcomers Widnes are still searching for their first win of the new season after slumping to a 38-18 defeat by Salford.
The Vikings - without Scott Moore, Hep Cahill and Simon Finnigan, all suspended for a breach of club discipline - trailed 32-6 at half-time and lost Ben Kavanagh and Anthony Watts through injury.
They turned in an improved second half show but a third straight defeat leaves them rooted to the foot of the table.
The Reds made a flying start after Ben Cross was penalised for interference and Matty Smith sent Daniel Holdsworth over in the second minute.
Holdsworth tagged on the conversion and had a chance to fire his side further ahead but threw a wild pass to Danny Williams.
Another penalty conceded by Willie Isa proved costly for Widnes, who fell 12-0 behind when Luke Patten went over despite Smith's pass bobbing along the ground.
Scorching break
There was nothing fortunate about the Reds' third try after 17 minutes with Danny Williams' scorching break allowing Patten to cross for his second try.
Widnes came close with Patrick Ah Van denied by Holdsworth before the winger took Frank Winterstein's clever pass to squeeze over in the corner and convert his own touchdown.
Vikings sub Kavanagh was carried off on a stretcher only five minutes after replacing Cross. He was injured when he appeared to catch his studs in the pitch fielding a kick with no Salford defender in close proximity.
Holdsworth brushed off Jon Clarke's poor tackle and booted his third conversion to stretch the lead to 22-6.
Patten, who was ripping Widnes apart alongside Holdsworth and Smith, sent Jodie Broughton over and when Watts was sin-binned for dissent the Reds took advantage of the extra man for youngster Gareth Owen to nip over from dummy half and stretch the interval advantage to 32-6.
There was no stopping Iafeta Paleaaesina who charged over from Owen's pass early in the second half when Widnes were still down to 12 men.
Watts returned from the sin-bin but went off almost immediately with a leg injury.
Ah Van gave the Widnes fans something to cheer by shrugging off Patten to grab his second try and then land the conversion off the touchline before Paddy Flynn's effort three minutes from time.