First Utility Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats claim late win
Paul Sykes scored a last-gasp try as Wakefield grabbed a thrilling 24-18 win over in-form Widnes at the Stobart Stadium.
Last Updated: 09/05/14 10:24pm
Sykes raced over on the last play of the match to hand the Vikings a first defeat in four.
Wakefield, who had lost their previous six league and cup games before last week's win at Hull, had the early bonus of a 40-20 by Jarrod Sammut with only determined defence keeping out Lucas Walshaw.
The Wildcats took the lead with a stunning try after Widnes should have gone in front but Macgraff Leuluai opted not to pass to the supporting Jon Clarke.
When Kevin Brown threw out a loose pass on the Wakefield line, Sammut swooped on the ball to sprint 80 metres before sending Chris Riley over.
Sammut tagged on the conversion to make it 6-0 after seven minutes.
Walshaw was proving a real handful for Widnes down the left channel and sub Richard Moore made his presence felt with a thundering tackle.
Moore did even better after 19 minutes, charging through two defenders to increase the lead to 12-0 with his first try since returning from Leeds.
The advantage was no more than Wakefield deserved after their bright opening.
But Widnes finally broke the Wildcats defence with Brown and Stefan Marsh combining for Hulme to cross in the corner, with Danny Tickle's conversion attempt going over off the post.
Brown's growing influence lifted Widnes but Wakefield missed a chance to increase the lead when Sammut was off target with a penalty after Moore had the ball illegally stolen.
Pressure
Widnes piled on the pressure before the break with Tickle held over the line before Brown's long pass put Paddy Flynn over in the corner.
Tickle again struck the touchline conversion to draw the Vikings level.
Sammut booted the restart dead to give Tickle a penalty chance from the half way line but the ex-Wigan and Hull forward was just wide with the long range effort.to leave it 12-12 at half-time.
Hulme struck again two minutes after the restart after collecting Danny Craven's neat kick to plunge over with Tickle kicking the conversion.
Wakefield refused to lie down and were back on level terms with Harry Siejka plunging over and Sammut adding the goal to make it 18-18.
It was a rousing contest with play switching from end to end and Flynn going close again from another teasing Brown kick.
Paul McShane was held up close to the Vikings line.with Sykes missing a drop goal attempt for Wakefield after 73 minutes before Craven was off target for Widnes.
Tickle then missed a penalty and drop-goal for Widnes before Pita Godinet was short with a one-point effort.
Then up popped Sykes to step in with his match-winning effort.