Widnes 30 Hull KR 16: Robins turn to Webster as interim coach

Widnes were behind 12-10 until six minutes before the break but had too much pace for plucky Rovers, who are still without a win this season.

Widnes rallied to lead 22-12 at half-time but were never in total command. Joe Mellor and Corey Thompson each crossed twice for the Vikings, with their other try from Rhys Hanbury who added five goals.

After the match, Rovers announced James Webster’s return to the club as interim coach for the remainder of the season, taking over from caretaker Willie Poching.

Rovers were missing the suspended James Green, banned for one match for his spat with Travis Burns against St Helens, with Albert Kelly and acting captain Graeme Horne added to the lengthening injury list.

Without eight regulars in all, Poching handed teenage forward Kieran Moran his debut on a youthful bench.

Widnes brought in Connor Farrell as they looked to avenge their 12-8 home defeat by Rovers in the Super Eights last August and maintain their impressive start to the campaign.

Widnes thrashed champions Leeds 56-12 in their only other home match this season but made a poor start on Friday, with Gil Dudson losing the ball in the first tackle.

Widnes had to defend four sets of six from the kick-off and the pressure told with a darting burst from George Lawler allowing Maurice Blair to put Rovers into a seventh-minute lead, with Ryan Shaw booting the conversion.

Widnes thought they had a chance to draw level but a Charly Runciman try was disallowed for a forward pass from Kevin Brown.

The Vikings’ enterprise was rewarded after 15 minutes when Chris Bridge sent Thompson racing down the wing and his inside pass found Hanbury, who converted his own touchdown.

Rovers’ bad luck continued with Liam Salter, only recently back from a shoulder injury, forced off midway through the first half.

But they kept plugging away, with Adam Walker held up over the line and an unforced error from sub Manase Manuokafoa not helping the Vikings’ cause.

It needed a touch of class from Joe Mellor to put Widnes ahead for the first time when he shot through a gap and raced around Ben Cockayne to make it 10-6 after a 35-yard burst.

Rovers stuck doggedly to their task and were rewarded when substitute Thomas Minns brushed off Stefan Marsh on a rampaging run and Shaw landed his second conversion to edge his side ahead 12-10 after half an hour.

The lead changed hands again six minutes before the restart, with Mellor taking a return pass from Chris Dean to notch his second try and Hanbury adding his second conversion to make it 16-12.

Mellor immediately hit Rovers again, with his burst allowing Bridge to send Thompson over for his seventh try of the season. Hanbury’s goal stretched the advantage to 22-12 at the break.

Bridge and Mellor then engineered Thompson’s second try soon after the restart, with Hanbury’s conversion making it 28-12 and putting Widnes in firm control.

James Greenwood went close for the Robins, who continued to battle against the odds, spurred on by a vociferous army of travelling fans.

Brown’s kick almost brought Thompson his hat-trick try but it was Rovers who scored next, with Shaw going over in the corner after 63 minutes from a long pass by Blair.

Widnes lost Farrell with a leg injury before Hanbury slotted over a late penalty.

Widnes: Hanbury, Thompson, Bridge, Runciman, Marsh, Mellor, Brown, O’Carroll, White, Dudson, Dean, Houston, Cahill. Substitutes: Farrell, Manuokafoa, Leuluai, Whitley.

Hull K R: Cockayne, Sio, Salter, Thornley, Shaw, Marsh, Blair, Walker, Lawler, Tilse, Clarkson, Greenwood, Allgood. Substitutes: Holker, Mulhern, Minns, Moran.

Referee: G Hewer (RFL).