REPORT | Widnes Vikings 16 Dons 20

An 11-man Dons side took victory over Widnes Vikings in dramatic style as they ended their mid-season travels on a monumental high.

Tries from Greg Burns, Edene Gebbie and Reece Lyne gave Richard Horne's side a 10-point lead at the interval, but red cards for both Gebbie and Suaia Matagi left the visitors with a two-man disadvantage.

The hosts came from behind to go in front in the second half, but Craig Hall took matters into his own hands on his 400th senior appearance to score a crucial six points late on that secured a first Dons win in Widnes since 2001.
Horne made one change to the side that completed the Dons' first-ever league double over London Broncos eight days earlier, with Greg Burns returning to the starting XIII in Halton. Ben Johnston and Josh Bowden both made their reintroductions to action as interchanges.
Widnes looked to start fast on their own track and went close twice within the opening five minutes on the last tackle, but the Dons soaked the pressure up well to give themselves a platform.
The hosts' early hard work unravelled after ten minutes when a mistake in their own half gave the visitors a penalty 35 metres out.
The Dons immediately threatened from that opportunity as Hall kicked through a grubber for Watson Boas, but the Vikings palmed into touch from inside the goal area to kick from their own line.
Horne's men weren't to let the chance pass them by and took the lead after 15 minutes. Burns acted as a half-back and spotted the gap to charge over the line from close range. Connor Robinson added the extras.
The Dons were on the front foot and furthered their advantage six minutes later. The away side shifted play from the centre to the left, where Hall found Gebbie, who raced clear and over the line to ground his 21st try of the season and give his side a ten-point lead.
Play was halted on 22 minutes as Jake Maizen received urgent medical attention before being stretchered off, and that was the way it remained for over an hour as the referee awaited a pitchside doctor needed to restart the game.
The game resumed at 1635 with the referee sending Gebbie off.
The Dons were down to 12 and then 11 as Matagi received his marching orders after a spell of high tensions that also saw Widnes' Nick Gregson sin-binned.
Horne's side extended their lead despite their personnel disadvantage, making the most of a penalty on halfway to find Lyne, who powered his way to the line on the right for a 14-point lead.
But the Dons were outnumbered, and Widnes made that factor count just before the break as Max Roberts found the gap to exploit and went over to reduce the deficit to ten points at the break.
The visitors held out for the first ten minutes of the second half, but the pressure eventually told on 52 minutes. The hosts outnumbered the Dons on the right wing and left Ben Condon to go over. Will Roberts converted.
Widnes then took the lead after 59 minutes as the advantage allowed the home side to kick through for Rhys Williams to chase after and ground in the corner. Will Roberts again converted, and the hosts looked to be well on their way.
But with 69 minutes on the clock, the pendulum swung again. In a moment of madness, a Boas grubber kick bounced out for Hall, who picked up and scrambled for the line to put the Dons in front by two points.
Horne's men were in for a nervy final ten minutes, and disaster almost struck as the Vikings went close in the left-hand corner, but the ball was put into touch to the relief of everyone in a blue and orange shirt.
It was the visitors' resilience and guile that gave them a chance going into the final stages of the match and that forced the hosts into a mistake 35 metres out – the Dons had a penalty, and Hall elected to go for two.
The fullback perfectly pinned the ball between the sticks to give his side a four-point lead with two minutes left on the clock.
Widnes threw absolutely everything at the Dons line in the remaining time, but Horne's men held strong to hold on until the final hooter that confirmed a first win at Widnes in 24 years.
Dons: Hall, Briscoe, Lyne, Hey, Gebbie, Boas, Robinson, Baldwinson, Burns, Matagi, Jones, Smeaton, Hepi. Interchanges: Johnston, Pauli, Bowden, Misky.