EAGLES SECURE PLAY-OFFS WITH WIN AT WIDNES

17/09/2023

Sheffield Eagles secured a spot in the Betfred Championship play-offs on Sunday, with a win over Widnes Vikings.

Mark Aston named an unchanged starting 13 from last week’s win over Keighley, Titus Gwaze and Bayley Liu returned to the interchange bench.

The visitors started well, dominating the Vikings in possession and territory, but failed to capitalise early on and found themselves behind after 18 minutes when Adam Lawton powered over for Widnes’ only score of the half.

Widnes’ most threatening period came after their first try, winning two goal-line drop-outs before Sheffield replied with their first try of the game.

A break downfield from Mikey Wood created panic among the Vikings defence, on the next tackle, Anthony Thackeray fed Aaron Murphy with a short ball and the forward did the rest. Cory Aston added the two from the tee to bring the Eagles level.

The turning point of the game came a few minutes later when former Eagle Aaron Brown tackled a Sheffield man just before he received possession of the ball. Brown was sent off, Widnes down to 12, and Sheffield in front by two after Aston kicked the resulting penalty.

HALF-TIME: WIDNES VIKINGS 6-8 SHEFFIELD EAGLES

The 12-man Widnes side scored the first try of the second half. Sheffield knocked on inside their 10m zone and were quickly punished, Kieran Dixon finished off a swift Vikings scrum play. The winger converted his try.

Glover’s kick off caused trouble for the Vikings and earned a drop-out. Aaron Murphy was at it again moments later, Thackeray again the provider for the former Bradford man. Aston converted to put the Eagles in front by two.

Soon after Aston continued his impressive display, as he finished off a well worked Sheffield break, QLT provided the homegrown half-back with a score underneath the sticks.

Aston’s men turned the style on for the next score; a silky move saw the ball shift through the Eagles’ hands after a break from Glover, Hooker Jack Hansen the try-scorer.

Dixon added his second of the game with 15 minutes left on the clock, finishing off a Vikings shift to the left.

Eagles captain Anthony Thackeray’s try killed off any thoughts of a Vikings comeback, the classy no.7 was on the end of an Aston break down the middle of the pitch to extend the visitor’s lead.

The skipper could’ve had another five minutes later, this time Hansen spotted a gap and fed the skipper for a walk-in, this time, Thackeray generously gifted the try to loose forward Evan Hodgson for Sheffield’s final try of the contest.

FULL-TIME: WIDNES VIKINGS 18-38 SHEFFIELD EAGLES

Sheffield entertain Bradford Bulls at the Olympic Legacy Park next Sunday (18:30pm Kick Off) in the final home game of the season.