WIDNES VIKINGS 40 LYNX 4 THE scoreline says it all (Vikings 40. Lynx 4) - Lynx were crushed. But to be fair to the local side, they did have to implement a series of changes which unsettled them.

Winger Neil Parsley was back on familiar ground as full back, while Doc Murray and veteran Joe Walsh were put in at stand off and hooker respectively.

After being hammered by Barrow at home on Friday, morale was at an all-time low as Lynx set about restoring self-belief and pride.

And although the scoreline reflects otherwise, this was a gutsy performance from Lynx.

For 18 minutes they kept out a side which included Super League experience in ex-Wigan forward Lee Hansen and ex-Warrington star George Mann.

In fact Lynx were unlucky not to score early on when Murray, excelling in his new role, dribbled the ball through the Vikings defence like a football before a Widnes player dropped on it to save the try.

Lynx were certainly manful in the tackle but you got the feeling that when Widnes broke through the tide would be unstoppable. And indeed they were.

A chip kick which looked comfortable for full back Parsley to collect was fumbled and centre Chris Percival collected to dive over the line.

Ex-Widnes old boy Kyle White, who had been getting some severe earache from the crowd, finally snapped and along with Frenchman Lokeni Savelio spent ten minutes on the bench for fighting.

Up until that point there hadn't even been a penalty. Murray made a super run five minutes later and was tackled under the posts just short of the line.

Lynx, playing expansive rugby, spun the ball to the right wing for Parsley to score and make amends for his earlier mistake.

Winger Craig Campbell missed the conversion.

Two minutes later Widnes showed their superior class and substitute Danny Myler put second row Paul Harris through for a cracking try.

George Mann, working with Myler who was having a great game, put a fabulous ball through for winger Damien Munro to score in the left corner.

Scrum half Mark Hewitt converted the try and the half finished it at 16-4 in the Vikings favour.

The second half proved to be a backs against the wall performance from Lynx although they started much the stronger.

The Widnes defence held out though and after nine minutes and a dubious pass Jim Cassidy dashed into the corner for a well earned try.

Joe Walsh was penalised minutes later for interfering at the play the ball in front of his own posts and conceded a silly penalty.

More pressure came from Widnes forward George Mann who offloaded a ball in the tackle to put Munro through for his second try.

Danny Myler created more misery for Lynx as he sailed over the line twice in the final five minutes to finish off a fine performance for Widnes.

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