Sunday 7th February

Teams

Wakefield
1 Ben Jones-Bishop
2 Tom Johnstone
3 Bill Tupou
4 Joe Arundel
5 Reece Lyne
6 Jacob Miller
7 Liam Finn
8 Nick Scruton
9 Stuart Howarth
10 Anthony England
11 Matty Ashurst
12 Danny Kirmond
13 Tinirau Arona
Subs
14 Michael Sio
15 Scott Anderson
16 Anthony Topou
17 Jon Molloy

Widnes
1 Rhys Hanbury
2 Corey Thompson

Wakefield 4 V 0 Widnes
Tries: Howarth (7)

Wakefield 4 V 6

Converted Try: Sa

Simple unforced errors stopping Wakefield from building any pressure, the first of the teams to settle down will gain the ascendancy.

Stupid pointless penalty gives Widnes an easy exit from their own 20 and Widnes take full advantage with a line break followed by a Hanbury try and a Hanbury conversion.

Johnstone knocks on from the kick and Setemata Sa picks up for an easy touchdown, Hanbury converts

Wakefield 4 V 18 Widnes

Tries:
Howarth

Tries:
Sa 2, Hanbury
Conversions: Hanbury 3

Oh dear this could be embarrassing.

This first half has been littered with handling errors and a few soft penalties, we won't compete with anyone if we continue to turn the ball over so cheaply.

Half time just come at the right time....

I think 10 minutes earlier would have been better!

Try to Reece Lyne after good build up play by Sio and Crowther
Finn converts
Wakefield 10 V 18 Widnes

Another unforced error by Wakefield gifting field position to Widnes
Lloyd White scores a soft try and Hanbury converts

Wakefield 10 V 24 Widnes

BJB very disappointing again.

Sio scores under the posts Finn converts

Wakefield 16 V 24 Widnes

Could be on 0 points by the time the next home game comes around (5th round).

Gifted the game to Widnes. Positives and negatives to take out of the game. All in all much better than last year.

Widnes played well and we didn't, especially in the first half.

Brown and Hanbury were pretty much at their best and given enough possession and field position both of those players will unpick the best teams.

We were better in the 2nd half and actually out scored the Vikings 14-6 leaving the obvious statement that the poor 1st half showing cost us the game.

We need another halfback which was obvious before the game and was confirmed by how Widnes defended against us.

It needs to be

I've always said that we should look for another halfback because Miller and Finn is hardly an inspiring combination.

Got Cas to look forward to next week.

Not too bad for first game of the season and with so many players making their SL debut for Trinity.
Widnes gifted the win but, Smith may be happier than Betts.
We have plenty of improvement in us whereas, whilst happy with the 2 points, may struggle further down the line.
Some of our defence was superb and the "gang" tackles to put them in touch times were excellent.

Not happy but, a substantial improvement on the same fixture last season and we will only get better.

Same old same old. Throwing silly passes in our own half, playing panic/catch up rugby when we go a score behind, dumb mistakes gifting the opposition points (Johnstone and BJB cost us 12) and cheap penalties. That said I thought we looked a lot fitter and defended with a lot more purpose, kept them to 6 second half and that was a gift. Didn't look too bad with ball in hand but still lacking composure. Another winnable game that's gone begging.

Well we didn't give up which is a positive but we weren't particularly good. Neither though if we are honest were Widnes so it is difficult to judge where we are currently at. Too many daft errors and penalties killed us and although the scrambling defence at times was good there is an awful long way to go in terms of improvement. Ultimately Widnes were there for the taking and we wasn't good enough to take advantage. All teams struggle with timing at this time of the year so our progression over the next 3 or 4 weeks will be crucial.

Unfortunately, the bad error by Johnstone near half time cost us dear. He may have the potential, but he just isn't ready yet. I am also uninspired by BJB at fullback

Another thing that cost us dear, was the lack of support play every time our forwards made a half break, especially England, who was always looking to offload.

We do need another half back, Miller isn't an all round half back, and Finn is just way too slow.

I would bring in Tansey at full back, with BJB moving to the wing. Tupou and Lyne did ok again

Agree with all this. Three unforced errors cost us the game, but some excellent defence on show against what I thought was a dirty Widnes team. I came away thinking the same, we will get better under Smith's leadership.
Funny to hear the result at Batley. Chuffed for John Kear today

I was happy with the commitment and there's certainly been a big improvement on last year especially in the tackling, fitness and cohesion departments. Feel a bit sorry for BJB whose knock on cost us the try in the second half, not much he could do with the pass from Johnstone, it was needless and unexpected but sadly our errors always seem to cost us. Early days, an 8 point loss when you've gifted them 12 is encouraging, hopefully it'll all come good next week.