Emilio at the double as Widnes battle past Centurions

Widnes defeated their fellow Super League strugglers Leigh 35-28 at the Halton Stadium yesterday.

Widnes defeated their fellow Super League strugglers Leigh 35-28 at the Halton Stadium yesterday.

Andrew Emilio scored two of the Vikings' six tries but the Centurions battled hard to score five of their own, two through John Wilshere. Emilio's second try put the game beyond the visitors, who are still to register a win.

Widnes raced into an early lead as Adam Hughes scored his first try of the season after some good work from Paul Crook and Aaron Moule. In the act of scoring, however, the big winger tweaked his hamstring, and was forced to leave the field.

Leigh hit back with a score from Ian Knott, but Moule replied with a well-taken try after Mark Smith's pass, and Crook added the extras.

Tries were traded until Emilio claimed his second, when he latched on to the scrum-half Gary Hulse's chip. But some poor defending let in Wilshere again and Mark Leafa also forced his way over. Neil Turley's goal put the game on a knife-edge at 34-28 to the hosts, before a drop goal from Crook ensured the Vikings' nervy victory.

Salford's centre Stuart Littler scored a hat-trick of tries as the Reds won 42-10 at home to Warrington.

Karl Harrison's side dominated the first half and led 18-4 at the break, thanks to tries from Nathan McAvoy, Littler and David Hodgson, with only Henry Fa'afili replying for the visitors.

Warrington threatened to produce a fightback when Chris Bridge went over soon after the interval, but two more tries for Littler and one each for Luke Robinson and Ian Sibbit made sure that the Reds ran out easy winners.