Widnes fall to Wakefield's enthusiasm

Widnes 4 Wakefield Trinity 1

Wakefield delivered the first of the surprises they might have in store for the new season by deservedly knocking Widnes out of the Challenge Cup.

Although Widnes could point to three easy missed goal kicks, and might complain that Wakefield's first try-scorer, Ben Westwood, should not still have been on the field, they were well beaten by a side showing great commitment and organisation.

"There's been such a lot of negative publicity about this club and its recent history," said Peter Roe, the new coach of Wakefield, the side most expect to finish at the foot of Super League. "The way we played reflected the enthusiasm in training and now we need to string a few results together to show that it is not a flash in the pan."

Roe would be the first to admit that a few things went in Wakefield's favour at the Halton Stadium. The first was when Westwood escaped punishment for a nasty looking forearm to the head of the Widnes fullback, Paul Atcheson, after only two minutes.

The next was the way that Barry Eaton, one of the most reliable kickers in the game, missed two simple penalties. "He has kicked his way out of the Northern Ford Premiership to play at this level," said Roe who has seen his side suffer at Eaton's boot in the past. "But he showed some nerves, which surprised me."

In between those misses Ian Knott scored the first point of a scrappy first half, a successful penalty for Wakefield.

Westwood then took advantage of a defensive blunder to score the half's only try. Brad Davis launched a cross-field bomb, Atcheson and Damien Munro leapt for it and the ball cannoned off them for Westwood to pounce.

A Widnes team extensively rebuilt for their first season back in the top flight at least showed more urgency after the break, although their try after 48 minutes came from an untypically slick flash of rugby.

Steve Carter got his pass to Adam Hughes who bumped out of a couple of tackles to send Chris Percival away. His inside pass to Phil Cantillon left the Wakefield fullback, Martyn Holland helpless.

It was Hughes' turn to miss what should have been a comfortable conversion and, although Widnes enjoyed the bulk of possession, they could not break down the Wakefield defence again. Instead Trinity underlined their superiority by scoring a clincher near the end. Widnes had often not seemed to know when they were on their final tackle; Nathan Wood showed how to use it constructively, throwing the ball wide for Knott to touch down and score the goal.

n Wakefield's reward is a quarter final against Leeds at Headingly. Wigan go to their NFP neighbours Leigh. The holders St Helens will be at Halifax. Castleford have home advantage over the second remaining team from the NFP, Doncaster, in the other tie.

Widnes: Atcheson; Munro, Demetriou, Hughes, Percival; Carter, Eaton; Relf, Cantillon, Stone, Farrell, McCurrie, Frame. Substitutes: Spruce, Richardson, O'Neill, McDonald.

Wakefield: Holland; Sovatabua, Tassell, Westwood, N Law; Davis, Wood; Broadbent, G Law, Jackson, Wrench, Field, Knott. Substitutes: Keating, Ellis, Slattery, Feather.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).