A TRIO of Australians proved too hot to handle for Widnes as they went down 38-16 at Hull Kingston Rovers.

Tormentor-in-chief was half-back Albert Kelly who the Vikings couldn't tame in midfield, while wingers Ken Sio and Josh Mantellato helped themselves to a hat-trick and brace of tries respectively.

Widnes were at times their own worst enemies with numerous lapses in concentration proving costly.

The Vikings enjoyed the early attacking territory but all that changed when Rovers centre Kris Welham intercepted a Joe Mellor pass and made 60 metres upfield.

The Vikings eventually conceded under the resulting pressure when Welham forced his way over wide out despite the attentions of Stefan Marsh. Mantellato's conversion gave Hull KR a 6-0 lead on seven minutes.

Widnes pulled four points back when a Kevin Brown chip to the corner evaded the clutches of home fullback Ben Cockayne and Marsh swopped on the loose ball to touch down.

On 17 minutes, a Maurice Blair bomb was virtually snatched out of the hands of Vikings right winger Jack Owens by Welham who fed Mantellato for the try which the big man again converted from the touchline to give his side a 12-4 lead.

Once more the Vikings were quick to respond as superb interplay between Alex Gerrard and Willie Isa up the middle of the field saw the latter send Brown over from 20 metres. This time Owens was on target with the extras to get his side back within two points at 12-10.

On the half hour Widnes were again exposed on their right hand side when Cockayne sent Mantellato over for his second try though he was third time unlucky with the goal from wide on the touchline.

Just two minutes later Rovers were in again.

A late offload caught the Vikings napping and allowed John Boudebza to send the speedy Kelly streaking 60 metres to the posts for a six-pointer which opened up a 22-10 advantage.

More pressure on the Widnes line brought Hull KR's fifth try when a simple move from a scrum allowed Sio to dive over on the right.

A 26-10 half-time deficit left Denis Betts' men with a mountain to climb.

A long delay early in the second half caused by an injury to Mantellato which saw him stretchered off didn't seem to halt the home side's gallop and they quickly added to their tally when Sio outflanked the Widnes defence for his second try with Kelly booting the conversion.

The Vikings responded quickly when Brown put Chris Dean over with a neat short ball and Owens angled goal made it 32-16.

A couple of chances to narrow the gap went begging in an increasingly frenetic game and the next score didn't come until the 68th minute.

A penalty kick to touch by Kelly took Rovers to the Widnes line and a quickly taken restart tap caught the Vikings napping allowing Sio to sneak over for his hat-trick try.

Fittingly, Kelly completed the scoring with his second conversion.

Widnes: Hanbury; Owens, Marsh, Dean, Ah Van; Brown, Mellor; Gerrard, White, Dudson, Clarkson, Leuluai, Isa. Subs: Heremaia, Whitley, Manuokafoa, Joseph.

Hull KR: Cockayne; Sio, Salter, Welham, Mantellato; Blair, Kelly; Walker, Boudebza, Puletua, Larroyer, Horne, McCarthy. Subs: Donaldson, Cox, Green, Greenwood.

Half-Time: 26-10.

Referee: J Cobb.

Attendance: 6,982.