MATCH DETAILS
Widnes got back to winning ways after losing the last four Super League games with a 90-0 win against Coventry in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.
Four tries for Danny Craven and hat-tricks for both Rhys Hanbury and Patrick Ah Van helped the Vikings make it into the draw for the sixth round with a 17-try rout of the League 1 underdogs.
The home side ran in ten tries in the first half, scoring in the first minute through a Rhys Hanbury try. Ah Van soon followed after facing Errol Carter one-on-one and getting the better of him.
Returning Lloyd White was next over the line after Tom Gilmore created space for him. Tries followed shortly from Hanbury again and Craven.
Coventry then had a spell of possession but couldn’t quite get over the tryline. Brad Walker, Matt Whitley, Hanbury with his third and Craven with his second gave Widnes a 54-0 lead at half-time.
Chamberlain was first to score in the second half when he crossed out wide before Danny Walker scooted over from dummy half.
Danny Craven added two more scores to make it four tries for the afternoon for himself. Further scores from Ah Van, Jay Chapelhow and Ryan Ince completed the scoring for the day with the Vikings ending up winning 70-0.
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED
HAVE WIDNES FINALLY CLICKED?
The halfback pairing of Craven and Gilmore showed tonnes of promise and they do have plenty of talent across the board.
The challenge now is facing Wigan next week and putting in a solid performance against a Super League side.
A cup run will help to get fans back on side but ultimately, it’s the league that matters most.
HOW BIG IS THE GAP UNDER SUPER LEAGUE?
We all love a Cup upset but League 1 side Coventry were not on the same level as Widnes today. Closing the gap between each of the leagues has to be a top priority.
THE RESULT
Widnes Vikings 90
Tries:ย Hanbury 3, Ah Van 3, White, Craven 4, Walker 2, Whitley, Chamberlain, Chapelhow, Ince
Goals:ย Gilmore 11
Coventry Bears 0
SQUADS
Widnes Vikings:ย Hanbury, Ince, Chamberlain, Runciman, Ah Van, Craven, Gilmore, Gerrard, White, J. Chapelhow, Whitley, Wilde, B. Walker.
Interchanges: Leuluai, D. Walker, S. Albert, Johnstone.
Coventry Bears:ย Gant, Carter, Pearce-Paul, Bass, Morley-Samuels, Emanuelli, Stead, Thomas, Williams, Vitalini, Gray, Mason, Hughes.
Interchanges: Rice-Wilson, Kaufman, Beddows, Geurtjens.
Referee: John McMullen
