Widnes 38 London 30: Phelps scores vital try to help win 11-try thriller

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UPDATED:

16:21 GMT, 25 March 2012

London are still seeking their first first away win of the season after Widnes moved out of the Super League basement following an 11-try spectacular.

Lloyd White notched two tries for Widnes who were level 30-30 until Cameron Phelps` vital try six minutes from time.

Widnes were without injured skipper Jon Clarke, vice-captain Shaun Briscoe and Anthony Mullally as well as Patrick Ah Van, Anthony Watts and Ben Kavanagh but Ben Cross, Chris Dean and Scott Moore returned.

London were missing Michael Robertson and Jason Golden but Liam Colbon was back.

The Broncos made a nightmare start with Luke Dorn spilling a Gareth O'Brien kick and then conceding a penalty for White to dart over.

O'Brien, on loan from neighbours Warrington, converted and then his neat kick bounced off the post for Dean to pounce and make it 12-0 after only five minutes.

London were starved of possession until they hit back on their first raid with a strong run from Chris Bailey.

Craig Gower and Antonio Kaufusi put Dorn over with Michael Witt's conversion cutting the gap to 12-6.

Rhys Hanbury was in lively form for Widnes and he shot past Matt Cook to extend the lead after Chris Melling and Gower had been held short by resolute Vikings defence.
Widnes would have gone further ahead had Moore been able to take Hanbury's pass after another impressive burst.

The Vikings did manage to extend the lead to 18-6 at the break with an O'Brien penalty after Phelps was obstructed by Gower chasing his own kick.

London's hopes of that elusive first away win were dealt another blow almost straight from the restart when Simon Finnigan's short pass put Ben Davies over with O'Brien adding the goal to make it 24-6.

Sub Mark Bryant powered over for the Broncos second try, converted by Witt, before Cross' sin-binning proved costly for Widnes.

Cross was yellow carded for obstructing Gower with Witt dummying his way over for a converted try to cut the gap to 24-18.

The Broncos drew level after 63 minutes with Colbon squeezing over in the corner and Witt booted the touchline conversion.

White then had a try disallowed by referee Richard Silverwood before White's second try after slipping Colbon's tackle edged the Vikings ahead 30-24.

But the lead was short-lived with Tony Clubb's converted try making it 30-30 until Phelps restored the Vikings` advantage after taking Willie Isa's inside pass.

O'Brien converted and then landed a penalty when Clubb was sin-binned for a late challenge.