VIKINGS fans had to endure a nail-biting finish before seeing their side take the spoils 20-16 against Hull KR at the Select Security Stadium.

Widnes held a 20-4 advantage with a quarter of the game remaining but Rovers, with Australian half-backs Albert Kelly and Terry Campese pulling the strings, roared back with tries from Ken Sio and Kris Welham to turn the screw in the last 15 minutes.

The Vikings defended the last couple of sets like their lives depended on it and probably just about deserved the two points.

Widnes had the better of the opening exchanges and took a deserved lead when quick passing between Joe Mellor and Stefan Marsh sent Paddy Flynn steeping his way in at the right corner. Jack Owens' fine conversion gave the Vikings a 6-0 lead.

It took Rovers some time to launch their first meaningful attack but it immediately paid dividends when Kelly's astute grubber-kick was pounced on by fullback Ben Cockayne to pull four points back.

Denis Betts' men increased their lead on the half-hour when Mellor's short pass sent second row Danny Galea crashing in by the posts with Owens adding the extras.

The play leading up to the break was nip-and-tuck with the only other first half points coming from a 35 metre Owens penalty which established his side's 14-4 interval lead.

Both sides fluffed opportunities on the resumption and when winger Josh Mantellato had a try ruled out for a forward pass, Widnes struck. From the resulting scrum, Flynn burst through the Rovers defence and showed them a clean pair of heels on a 90 metre dash to the posts.

At 20-4, some may have thought the Vikings were home and hosed.

But Rovers were nothing if not resilient and following their two try burst midway through the second half, they set up a finish that was as tense as it gets.

Fortunately, Widnes held on for a win that seems them rocketing up the Super League table.

Widnes: Hanbury; Flynn, Marsh, Phelps, Owens; Gore, Mellor; Dudson, Herremaia, Gerrard, Clarkson, Galea, Leuluai. Subs: Tickle, Joseph, Manuokafoa, Kavanagh.

Hull KR: Cockayne; Sio, Salter, Welham, Mantellato; Campese, Kelly; Walker, Lunt, Burke, Blair, McCarthy, Larroyer. Subs: Boudebza, Horne, Green, Donaldson.

Referee: M Thomason Attendance: 5,273