Rugby League: Davies returns to haunt Widnes: Warrington victory sees return to the championship lead

Widnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Warrington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

JONATHAN DAVIES marked his return to Naughton Park yesterday by helping Warrington return to the top of the Stones Bitter Championship. Warrington twice came from behind to beat Widnes, while Davies hit the 200-point mark for the season after kicking three goals from five attempts.

However, the display by Davies, who was back at Widnes for the first time since his summer transfer, was upstaged by Kelly Shelford, his team-mate, who scored one try and had a hand in the other two. The victory, Warrington's first in three games, puts them two points clear, though Wigan - who they play on Sunday - and Bradford Northern have two games in hand.

It was Widnes who opened the scoring after only three minutes when the full-back Christian Tyrer touched down to finish off a five- man move. Davies then kicked his first goal and Shelford set up Warrington's first try when his splendid kick to the corner was met by the wing Mark Forster, but Widnes went into a half-time lead when Adrian Hadley barged past two defenders to score.

On the hour, Shelford put Warrington back ahead with a try after a pass from Mark Forster had opened up the Widnes defence. It was Shelford again, 14 minutes from time, whose break set Mike Gregory through to score and seal the game.

At Hilton Park yesterday, Leigh burst into an early lead over Sheffield when Dean Hangar, the Australian centre, ran more than half the length of the field to score. However, they finished the game on the wrong end of a 24-14 defeat and still in search of their first League win of the season.

Sheffield had redressed the early balance in the 24th minute with a try from Daryl Powell and went ahead seven minutes before the break when the wing Lynton Stott broke a number of tackles to score. They vanished so far out of sight with tries from David Plange, Richard Price and David Fraisse that Leigh's late tries from Glyn Davies and Steve Warburton had no impact on the result.

Eric Hughes, who took over as coach at St Helens on Monday, has sacked his assistant coach, Frank Barrow. Barrow, 50, had been in charge of the club's reserves for four and a half years.

Martin Hall, the Wigan hooker, will be out for at least six weeks after breaking his right arm and chipping a bone in his wrist at Central Park on Sunday. Shaun Edwards and Frano Botica, who were also injured, are doubtful for Sunday's match at Warrington.