LONDON, 17 May 2005 — Widnes boosted their Super League survival hopes with a stunning seven-try 47-34 win over Wakefield on Sunday, dragging their losing hosts into the relegation dogfight in the process. Widnes ended their five-match losing run in style to haul themselves off the foot of the table and close the gap on the ninth-placed Wildcats to just four points.
Scrum-half Stephen Myler scored 22 of their points with a try and nine goals from as many attempts but the victory platform was laid by a dominant pack in which Shane Millard, Terry O’Connor and John Stankevitch were outstanding.
In other games, Warrington scored two late tries to secure a 28-22 home win over Wigan. Danny Lima swung a tense game in the Wolves’ favor with his second try of the match nine minutes from time before Nathan Wood intercepted Dennis Moran to wrap up the win.
Wigan had led by 10 points with an hour gone after tries from Martin Aspinwall, Danny Tickle and Moran but Warrington were never out of the game. Mike Wainwright and Logan Swann also crossed for the Wolves, with Chris Bridge kicking four goals. And Chris Nero scored a hat trick of tries as Huddersfield inflicted a 34-24 defeat on visiting London.
Stuart Donlan, Chris Thorman and Hefin O’Hare also touched down for the hosts.
London battled throughout and hit back through tries through Nick Bradley-Qalilawa (two), Jon Wells, Tyrone Smith and Thomas Leuluai.
Humphreys to Lead Irish
on Tour of Japan
In Dublin, veteran fly-half David Humphreys is to captain Ireland on their two-Test series in Japan it was announced yesterday.
The 33-year-old 67-times capped kicker was part of a 26 man squad selected for the tour which sees the first Test played on June 12 in Osaka and the second in Tokyo on June 19.
With 11 Irish players — including captain Brian O’Driscoll — and coach Eddie O’Sullivan on duty with the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand the squad has experienced players as well as nine, who are uncapped.
Niall O’Donovan replaces O’Sullivan as coach for the tour.
The new faces include Munster second row Trevor Hogan, Leinster’s Kieran Lewis and Conor McPhilips from Connacht as well as Roger Wilson, Matt McCullough, Kieran Campbell, Paddy Wallace (all Ulster), David Quinlan (Leinster) and Bernard Jackman (Connacht), who have all been involved with Irish squads in the past.
O’Donovan said that the fact there were so many players touring with the Lions allowed him to take a look at new as yet unearthed talent.
“With such a high representation on the British and Irish Lions, the squad for Japan gives us a chance to look at players in certain areas.
“These include the back row and second row, where there is a glut of talent coming through, allowing us to look at options as cover for players such as Anthony Foley and also at scrum half.
“With two tough full international games against Japan, the key to the squad was getting the balance right and given that there are also six players with less then ten caps, the need for experience in key areas of the pack and in the backs was essential.”
