Friday 8th March 2013, 20:00 - Round:6

Widnes Vikings had Gareth Hock sent off but salvaged a point after a magnificent backs-to-the-wall effort against Bradford Bulls.

The forward, on loan from Wigan Warriors, was red-carded on the half hour by referee Robert Hicks for dissent after Matt Diskin bagged the Bulls' third touchdown to stretch their advantage to 16-4, following scores from Elliott Whitehead and Brett Kearney inside the opening five minutes.

However, the Vikings stunned Bradford by grabbing three tries without reply when they were down to 12 men through Rhys Hanbury, Patrick Ah Van and Lloyd White. Ah Van’s penalty five minutes from time then earned a deserved draw.

Widnes were missing skipper Kevin Brown, who suffered an ankle injury on his debut in the 36-16 win over Hull FC, while Cameron Phelps and Stefan Marsh were also sidelined.

Willie Isa, Dave Allen and Phil Joseph – against his old club – returned for the Vikings with Chris Dean in the centre after signing a new contract until 2015.

Bulls loose forward Jamie Langley made his 250th career appearance but goal-kicker Jamie Foster missed his first game since joining the club in the close-season.

Whitehead gave Bradford a flying start with the opening try from Kearney’s pass after only two minutes, although stand-in marksman Jarrod Sammut was off target with the conversion attempt.

Bradford extended the lead to 10-0 after Kearney raced onto Keith Lulia’s clever offload to force his way over with Sammut adding the extras.

Joe Mellor went close for Widnes before Paddy Flynn was forced to pull off a try-saving tackle on Lulia after Danny Addy’s 40-20 kick.

The Vikings finally opened their account when Ah Van nipped round the blind side from dummy half against his old club to cut the gap to 10-4.

Ah Van almost bagged a second as Widnes looked to regain their composure after the shaky start, but substitute Diskin burrowed his way over from dummy half before referee Hicks sent off Hock for dissent.

Sammut’s conversion made it 16-4 with the Vikings facing a massive task with only 12 men.

The numerical advantage paid off after 34 minutes when Lulia took Sammut’s pass to cross and make it 20-4 at the break.

Bradford lost Matty Blythe after a first-half knock but conceded a second try when Hanbury crossed from White’s pass.

Then Ah Van squeezed in at the corner and booted the conversion off the touchline to cut the deficit to 20-14.

A Sammut penalty gave Bradford an eight-point cushion but it was a valiant effort by Widnes - who had a Hanbury try disallowed after the full-back almost slid over.

The Widnes surge was rewarded with a White try from Hanbury’s pass after 68 minutes with Ah Van’s conversion making it 22-20.

Then Ah Van struck the penalty and the Vikings almost snatched victory, but Hanbury’s drop goal attempt was just off target.