Super League: Wakefield Wildcats 18-30 Widnes Vikings

Stefan Marsh has scored eight Super League tries this season

Widnes Vikings eased to their first win away from home this season as coachless Wakefield suffered their 13th loss from 14 games in all competitions.

Defeat came five days after coach James Webster left the Wildcats.

Tries from Rhys Hanbury, Jack Owens and Stefan Marsh's brace put Widnes 18-6 up at the break, with Tom Johnstone going over for the hosts.

Lloyd White added to Widnes's lead and Marsh competed his hat-trick before Matt Ryan and Dean Collis responded.

Victory moves Denis Betts' Vikings up to eighth in the table and leaves Wakefield seven points adrift of their nearest rivals at the foot of the Super League standings.

Stuart Dickens' time as Wakefield's caretaker boss got off to a disastrous start, with captain Danny Kirmond forced off after 36 seconds, having taken two heavy knocks in the opening two tackles of the game.

Owens set the foundations for the opening try, with Cameron Phelps sending Hanbury over.

Marsh grabbed his first on 18 minutes and sustained pressure saw him get on the end of a Joe Mellor pass to go in again four minutes later.

Owens' effort was converted by White to put the visitors 18-0 up before Johnstone got the better of Hanbury to hit back for the troubled Wildcats just before half-time.

Quick thinking by Patrick Ah Van caught Wakefield's defence out and allowed White to add to the visitors' advantage in the 49th minute, with the hooker then converting his own score.

Ryan was sin-binned for slowing the play of the ball down and Marsh ensured Widnes took advantage by running in his third try.

While Ryan returned to the field to go in for Wakefield and Collis pulled another score back, Widnes easily managed to hold on for the two points despite having Phelps binned late on.

Wakefield caretaker coach Stuart Dickens:

"We asked for a response from the players in terms of commitment, desire and determination and I thought we got that today.

"That side of the game couldn't be questioned at all.

"The things we need to improve on now are probably a little bit of quality with the ball and smartness in decision-making."

Widnes Vikings head coach Denis Betts:

"It was a poor, poor game. I'm just glad I didn't have to pay to watch it.

"The only thing we can take out of today is that we've won a game away from home and we're in the (top) eight.

"We needed to win this game and it's another banana skin we managed to step over. The change in the coach and talk in the papers about showing some enthusiasm and desire for the club, those kind of things can have an effect.

"So we were wary of that and there's no atmosphere in the ground. It's a pretty dull place because of what's happening here at the moment."

Wakefield Wildcats: Owen; Johnstone, Collis, Lyne, Riley; Miller, T. Smith; Scruton, McShane, Molloy, Ryan, Kirmond, Washbrook.

Replacements: Crowther, Godinet, Annakin, Anderson.

Widnes Vikings: Hanbury; Owens, Marsh, Phelps, Ah Van; Heremaia, Mellor; Dudson, White, Gerrard, Clarkson, Galea, Isa.

Replacements: Joseph, Leuluai, Manuokafoa, Whitley.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (RFL)

Attendance: 3,132.