Match Report | Widnes Vikings 10-8 Sheffield Eagles
23/02/2025
Sheffield Eagles’ first league away game of the new season ended in a narrow 10-8 defeat this afternoon at Widnes Vikings.
Craig Lingard was handed a boost for the trip across to the North West as James Glover and Corey Johnson returned to the side to take on the Vikings. There was also a first start for the Eagles for forward Masi Matongo.
In a first half which included only one try in the way of the home side, Sheffield spent much of the first forty putting Widnes under pressure with the high ball, courtesy of the kicking from Morgan Smith and Cory Aston.
Widnes also had chances of their own inside the opening forty minutes, which included a great try saver tackle on the line by the Eagles as the hosts were denied the opening score on the half-hour mark.
Three minutes before the break, Widnes finally opened the scoring. After being awarded a penalty for an Eagles man being offside, Tom Gilmore’s pass towards the left wing was collected by Rhys Williams, who grounded the ball in the corner.
Sheffield came out for the second half and scored seven minutes after the restart as Jack Walker picked out Matty Dawson-Jones out wide. The winger beat his man, before racing towards the corner to score.
After an unsuccessful kick for goal for the visitors, Widnes put themselves further ahead in the 55th minute as Matt Fleming grounded the ball to the right of the sticks. Gilmore’s missed attempt at goal saw the score stand at 10-4 with twenty-five minutes to go.
With a minute to go, Morgan Smith grounded the ball to give the Eagles a chance to earn a draw, but an unsuccessful kick for goal as the hooter sounded saw Sheffield fall to a second defeat of the season.
It’s a break away from Betfred Championship action next weekend as we take on Doncaster in the 1st Round of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup at Olympic Legacy Park on Sunday afternoon (3pm KO).
Widnes Vikings: Hodkinson, Butt, Fleming, Lloyd, Williams, Gilmore, Patton, Murray, Fozard, Reilly, Langtree, Lannon, Bent
Interchanges: Lyons, Gregson, Bennion, Wood
18th Man (not used): Jones
Tries: Williams (37’), Fleming (55’)
Goals: Gilmore (1/2)
Sheffield Eagles: Walker, Jones-Bishop, Welham, Glover, Dawson-Jones, Aston, Smith, Matongo, Johnson, Dickinson, Farrell, Hodgson, Gwaze
Interchanges (all used): Battye, Millar, Peachey, Bussey
18th Man (used): Mallinson
Tries: Dawson-Jones (47’), Smith (79’)
Goals: Aston (0/2)
Attendance: TBC
Referee: J.Vella
