Honours Even In Super League Opener

Despite being down to 12 men, Widnes fought back to draw 22-22 with Wigan in the opening game of the new Super League season.

After 26 minutes on Thursday night, it looked like visitors Wigan were crusing to victory. They were 16-0 up, had a man advantage after Patrick Ah Van saw red for a swinging arm on Josh Charnley and Widnes had lost skipper and influential playmaker Kevin Brown.

However, last season's runners-up could not make it count and Widnes came roaring back to give the record 9,286 crowd at the Select Security Stadium something to cheer about.

Wigan scored four tries through Joel Tomkins, a Anthony Gelling brace and through Joe Burgess, while Matty Smith added three conversions.

Widnes hit back through Joe Mellor, Rhys Hanbury, Cameron Phelps and Chris Dean, with Danny Tickle converting two, and Stefan Marsh adding the final conversion to claim the draw.

The Warriors hit the ground running and looked like they were determined to put their Grand Final defeat to St Helens to rest as they raced to a 10-0 lead, which they soon extended to 16-0.

Gelling marked his 50th appearance with two of the Warriors' four tries, while 20-year-old playmaker George Williams showed promise as he began the daunting task of filling the boots of the departed Blake Green.

However, Joe Burgess then gifted a try to Widnes half-back Mellor with a fumble five minutes before half-time which was converted by Matty Smith to make it 16-6. Rhys Hanbury then scored a second try for the hosts to put the pressure back on Wigan.

The visitors repsonded in kind as Tomkins put Burgess over on 55 minutes, shortly after having a try disallowed for a knock-on. Smith's touchline goal made it 22-12.

Gelling was denied a hat-trick by a blatant forward pass by Bowen, before Wigan lost their way in a dramatic last 10 minutes.

Centre Cameron Phelps, one of eight former Wiganers in the Vikings ranks, went over 15 minutes from the end to keep his side's hopes alive and Dean crashed over by the posts with just three minutes to go.

Stefan Marsh, taking on the goal kicking in the absence of both Brown and Tickle, was wide with his first attempt but landed the crucial attempt from in front of the posts to tie the scores.