Hull fire damns Widnes after they fail screen test

New technology did Widnes, the surprise packages of Super League this season, no favours on Friday night when they had three tries disallowed by the video referee, Steve Cross, and eventually lost 16-28 to Hull.

They were 16-8 in front when stand-off Craig Weston and hooker Phil Cantillon, twice, had touchdowns wiped out after replays revealed knock-ons.

Hull took full advantage to rattle up 16 points in a 10-minute burst that transformed the game and lifted Shaun McRae's men to second place in the table, just two points behind the Bradford Bulls, who themselves recovered from last week's setback at Leeds to run in eight tries on their way to a 46-22 win over the Halifax Bluesox.

McRae said the video decisions showed the game needed the system at all games, not just those being televised. "I've told Neil Kelly [the Widnes coach] that, if this wasn't the TV game, he would probably have won," McRae said. "I've been calling for a long time for a video referee at every game. There's got to be a way it can be done, even if it's only one camera angle."

Kelly himself was a bitterly disappointed man. "It's a bit hard to swallow," he said. "We played some of our best football of the year, certainly in the first half, and I'm very proud of the players.

"Luck is an integral part of the game and our worst luck was in having the cameras here. If we can match that level of performance and get some luck, somebody had better watch out."

Widnes were left to reflect on another narrow home defeat, but they provided further ample evidence of their Super League credentials with another impressive performance.

They showed their danger with two tries in the first 15 minutes through Anthony Farrell, who produced a delightful sidestep, and hooker Cantillon, who finished off a sparkling move involving Weston, Steve McCurrie and Stuart Spruce.

Hull fought back to within two points with a nicely taken try from Tony Smith, back to his best after recovering from ankle and wrist surgery, and two goals from Matt Crowther, but the Vikings were dominant and deservedly extended their lead six minutes before the break. Acting captain Spruce demonstrated his incisive running with an arcing run that took him past Hull loose-forward Jason Smith for his side's third try.

Then came the video shocks. First Weston had an injury-time try disallowed, then the video referee twice ruled against Cantillon within 12 minutes of the restart. It took a series of slow-motion replays to spot the slightest nudge by David Mills, but there was no disputing the second decision, with Cantillon clearly losing the ball in the act of scoring.

Hull needed no second invitation and they turned the game on its head with three quickfire tries. Centre Graham Mackay powered his way over, Smith supported a superb break by Horne to claim his second, and right-winger Gareth Raynor rounded his opposite number for another.

The remarkable turn of events took its toll on the dejected Vikings, and Mackay added a second try just before the end.