Betts: We were chasing shadows

MJ Black

Widnes head coach Denis Betts says the Vikings need to start producing 80 minute performances if they’re to pull away from the bottom of the Super League table.

Betts’ team blew a 22-4 half-time lead to lose 33-22 against Hull on Sunday and Betts admitted the game was a tale of two halves.

“If we had points for winning halves then we’d be in a lot better position,” said Betts. “In these past few weeks we’ve won the first halves in games but not got anything out of them.

“It was the best 40 minutes of the year for us. Then we stopped doing everything. Our shape dropped, our talk dropped off. We had a great lead and energy but then don’t turn up in the second half.

“They have got some good players and we let them back in. Jamie Shaul, Albert Kelly, Marc Sneyd and Carlos Tuimavave – we were chasing shadows.

“We need to show attitude in that when there’s a time to work, we need to step up. We are searching for that consistency in an 80-minute game. We are failing to put two halves together.

“I was buoyant in the first half and I have to take a positive in that.”