Viane brings down Giants

Widnes 40 Huddersfield 1

Widnes looked anything but a relegation-threatened side as they ran in 28 unopposed points in the second half.

Their Australian wing Gray Viane led the way with a hat-trick as the Vikings moved to two points behind third-from-bottom Wakefield. Huddersfield were a shadow of the side that won at Wigan last week.

Viane, on loan from St Helens until the end of the season, sparked his side's recovery from 12-8 down with an 80-metre try six minutes before the break, seizing on Chris Thorman's loose pass.

Widnes then ran in five more tries in 16 minutes after the prop Julian O'Neill's startling break set up Simon Finnigan. The outstanding hooker Shane Millard cut through, and Viane completed his hat-trick in three minutes either side of the hour. Mark Smith added a seventh try.

"The main message at half-time was to get the defence right and once we did that we got more confidence with the ball," said the Widnes coach Frank Endacott. "I have long been positive about staying up and it's good to see the players thinking the same way."

Huddersfield led 8-0 with a Paul March try and two Michael de Vere goals. Widnes replied with Daniel Frame's try and two of Stephen Myler's six goals but then Paul Smith went over from Thorman's pass.

"We haven't become a bad side in one week," said Huddersfield's coach, Jon Sharp.

Widnes: Holmes; Emelio, Fa'alogo, Connolly, Viane; Craigie, Myler; O'Connor, Millard, Stankevitch, Cassidy, Frame, Finnigan. Substitutes used: Julian O'Neill, Mills, Jules O'Neill, M Smith.

Huddersfield: St Hilaire; O'Hare, Nero, De Vere, Donlan; Thorman, March; Jackson, Drew, Crabtree, Jones, P Smith, Roarty. Substitutes used: White, Gannon, Grayshon, Clayton.

Referee: R Laughton (Dodsworth).