Yeds into the semis after golden point drama

Owen Farnworth went over after just six seconds of the golden point period to end this brilliant tie, giving Yeds a crack at London Broncos next week for a place in the Grand Final.

The Widnes Vikings defence proved too stubborn for Oldham to break in the early exchanges. When Yeds did manage to cross the line with Owen Farnworth, he was held up. Josh Drinkwater's delicate kicks through were gathered by the Widnes back three.

Using the artificial turf to their advantage, Drinkwater managed to get Oldham down the pitch with an inch perfect 40/20, giving them the perfect position to pounce. The ball travelled across the pitch into Drinkwater’s hands. His perfectly weighted pass went straight into the hands of Jake Bibby in the wide channel and he walked in for the game’s opening try 18 minutes. Morgan Smith added the conversion.

Vikings tried to get a foothold in the game in the later stages of the first half and had their chances. Jack Walker and Morgan Smith held the line for Yeds.

Smith missed his first chance to increase the lead off the tee late on in the first half but, when Danny Richardson’s restart went straight into touch, he didn't miss and increased Yeds' half-time lead to 0-8.

Matty Fozard’s incorrect play-the-ball gave Yeds the chance to increase their leader shortly after break. The play was straight off the training park: big centre Ben Davies powered his way over.

Yeds looked home and hosed when Smith's delicate chip brought about a Vikings obstruction infraction. Smith, having missed the conversion chance from the Davies try minutes earlier, opted to kick anyway, and gave his side a 0-14 lead.

Widnes were slipping down and out, but somehow fashioned a comeback for the ages. After a poor Yeds restart, Widnes sent the ball across the face of the Oldham defence before Mike Butt dived in the corner in spectacular fashion. Richardson missed the conversion leaving the score at 4-14.

Two minutes later, Widnes got their second of the afternoon. The first time the Vikings showed any proper promise from their own territory with ball in hand they nailed it. Richardson skipped across the Oldham line before putting Nathan Connell through. He raced away under the sticks and Richardson added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 10-14.

If it wasn’t for Bibby’s brave defence in the corner, Widnes would’ve had their third try in as many sets. Max Roberts was brought down by the scrambling defence only for the ball to come to Ryan Ince, but Bibby managed to clatter the Vikings winger into touch. From being comfortable, Yeds were hanging on.

Widnes capitalised on the chaos in Yeds' defence. Connell carved his way through before feeding Sam Wilde, who just didn’t have the legs to get over. The knock-on gave Widnes the opportunity to attack. It fell into Ryan Ince’s hands off the scrum and the winger dived over. Richardson added the extras to give Widnes the lead for the first time in the game with 14 minutes left.

Yeds levelled it with only five minutes remaining, with Smith slotting a penalty from 10 metres after ill-discipline on the Widnes line. Somehow Yeds, having contrived to go behind from 0-14 up, had taken the game into golden point.

The kick off was a calamity for Widnes. They let the ball bounce and it was gathered up by the on-rushing Oldham chase. After just six seconds, Farnworth went over to send Yeds into the semis.

Widnes Vikings
Starting XIII
Connell, Butt, Taylor, Owens, Ince, Richardson, Gilmore; Murray, Fozard, Chapelhow, Wilde, Langtree, Gregson
Interchanges
Roberts, Lawton, Banditt, McWhirter
18th Man
Bent

Oldham Roughyeds
Starting XIII
Walker, Nisbet, Davies, O’Keefe, Bibby, Smith, Drinkwater; Day, Wildie, Farnworth, Ashurst, Liu, Milner
Interchanges
Geyer, Chapelhow, Lannon, Mason
18th Man
High