WIDNES Vikings blasted off the cobwebs of a 12-month playing absence with a thumping 58-4 win over 12-man West Wales to progress into round two of the Challenge Cup.

It was a big day for the Vikings, having been left kicking their heels during lockdown, and they comfortably came through against a much-talked about Welsh side featuring Rangi Chase and Gavin Henson in the televised opener.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Henson, playing his first ever game of the 13-man code, was kept quiet as the Vikings took control.

Despite falling behind to an 11th minute try to Wales’ Uraia Naulusala, scored when Danny Craven was in the sin-bin, Vikings rose to the task after the long enforced break while loose forward Calum O’Neill was treated for a head knock.

No sooner had play resumed and Vikings were on the scoreboard when experienced number 7 Matty Smith fed the perfect inside ball for Shane Grady to power over.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Jack Owens’ goal gave Vikings a lead that they would never relinquish with the subsequent scoring procession helped by their one-man superiority.

West Wales went down to 12 men when Jamie Murphy was red-carded for upending Owen Buckley leaving the ref with no alternative.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

It probably made it a mis-match, but Vikings were not complaining with skipper Owens sending centre Steve Tyrer over in the corner for the first of his treble.

There were plenty of eye-catching displays across the board, with an energetic effort from Kenny Baker in the middle and some neat touches from Lewis Else.

But big Adam Lawton celebrated his return to the Vikings with a dynamic display and his 27th minute line-break, backed up by Jake Spedding saw Deon Cross go over.

Lawton repeated the trick a couple of minutes later, with Owens backing up for the touchdown.

Vikings were showing their capability to attack from anywhere on the field, with Cross piercing the line to streak upfield eventually finding Spedding in space on the right to make it 28-4 at the break.

Skipper Owens cashed in on neat work from Lewis Else to get the ball rolling early in the second half.

Although Vikings lost Will Tilleke to the sin-bin, that simply served to slow the scoring rate.

Vikings soon picked that back up approaching the final quarter with Spedding’s second sandwiched by two more from Tyrer.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

And in the closing stages Lawton earned a try, to go with his earlier assists, with Owens’ hat-trick wrapping up the scoring.

Calum O’Neill, who was carried off in the first half, was going to be taken hospital for further assessments on a head-knock but was reported to have been talking and walking in the dressing room at half time so will travel home with the team bus.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

West Wales: Cowburn, Naulusala, Murphy, Webb, Nadaubale, Henson, Chase, Morgan, Phillips, Allen, Connor, Burke, M. Evans. Subs: Batemen, Francis-Boginisoko, Herron, Stroud.

Widnes: Owens, Cross, Spedding, Tyrer, Buckley, Craven, Smith, Farnworth, Lyons, Baker, Grady, Lawton, O'Neill. Subs: Else, Dwyer, Tilleke, Wilde.

Referee: Liam Moore.

Pictures: David Davies/PA Wire.