WARRINGTON Wolves crashed to a shock 38-22 Good Friday defeat at near neighbours Widnes Vikings who tore the form book upside down.
With the Vikings coming into the game on the back of a 62-4 mauling by Wigan and the Wolves returning to form to defeat Huddersfield Giants in the snow last week, few but the Widnes faithful would have predicted this result, which has seen the pre-season title favourites lose three of their last five games.
Widnes edged the first half 12-6 with Warrington coming up with a host of errors.
Tries from Ah Van and Hanbury put Widnes ahead at half-time, with only a Chris Riley effort in response from the Wolves.
After their half-time team talk Warrington briefly rallied as Rhys Evans brought the teams level before Widnes old boy Richie Myler put Warrington 18-12 in front.
But that was pretty much as good as it got for Warrington as Widnes hit back, as Flynn squeezed in at the corner.
With all tries converted Ah Van struck a penalty goal to extend the lead after Gareth Carvell was penalised for a swinging arm.
Then Cahill sent in Hanbury for a well-worked try, and then Chris Dean scorched through to send in Lloyd White for a decisive score.
Riley hauled one back for Warrington but it was merely a consolation, as Flynn had the final say putting the gloss on victory for the jubilant hosts, who have not had much to cheer about in recent times against their derby rivals.
Widnes Vikings
1. Shaun Briscoe 20. Paddy Flynn 15. Chris Dean 2. Willie Isa 5. Patrick Ah Van 7. Rhys Hanbury 14. Joe Mellor 8. Ben Cross 9. Jon Clarke 16. Eamon O’Carroll 12. David Allen Gareth Hock 13. Hep Cahill
Substitues
10. Steve Pickersgill 25. Alex Gerrard 18. Lloyd White 11. Frank Winterstein
Warrington Wolves
19. Stefan Ratchford 2. Chris Riley 4. Ryan Atkins 20. Rhys Evans 5. Joel Monaghan 23. Gareth O’Brien 7. Richie Myler 10. Garreth Carvell 14. Mick Higham 18. Chris Hill 15. Simon Grix 12. Ben Westwood 17. Michael Cooper
Substitues
11. Trent Waterhouse 13. Ben Harrison 16. Paul Wood 24. Ben Currie
