THE VIKINGS losing run in Super League was extended to eight games as they went down 18-12 to Salford at the Magic Weekend.

Widnes fully deserved a 12-4 half-time lead and might feel they should have been further ahead.

But the Red Devils dominated the second period to shut the Vikings out and come away with the spoils.

Widnes brought back half-back and skipper Kevin Brown alongside threequarters Chris Bridge and Stefan Marsh.

But it was Salford who took an early lead when powerful right winger Daniel Vidot crashed in despite the attentions of three defenders to make it 4-0.

It didn't take the Vikings long to hit back as Brown's lovely delayed pass sent Rhys Hanbury over for a try he converted himself.

Hanbury had a try disallowed for obstruction and the Red Devils went close but hooker Logan Tomkins' rash offload didn't go to hand.

Widnes engineered an opportunity for left winger Stefan Marsh on the overlap but he was adjudged to have knocked-on under pressure from Robert Lui.

The Vikings scored a legal try on 31 minutes when Brown and Joe Mellor combined to send centre Bridge surging over.

Hanbury missed the very kickable conversion but was on target a few minutes later with a simple penalty goal to make it 12-4.

Robert Lui missed a golden opportunity for a breakaway try for Salford so that's how the score remained at the interval.

Salford came out for the second half looking like they meant business.

O'Brien missed an opportunity to exploit an overlap for the Red Devils but four consecutive sets on the Widnes line eventually saw Justin Carney cross wide out. O'Brien's superb goal made it 12-10 on 55 minutes.

Salford were now looking the livelier and they took the lead on 67 minutes when Vidot picked up the pieces after Dobson's kick bobbled around near the tryline. Dobson's conversion made it 16-12 to Salford.

Try as they might, Widnes just couldn't find the energy in the closing stages to claw the game back and O'Brien ended the argument with a late penalty to give his side their 18-12 victory.

Widnes: Hanbury; Thompson, Bridge, Runciman, Marsh; Mellor, Brown; O'Carroll, White, Dudson, Houston, Dean, Cahill. Subs: Heremaia, Manuokafoa, Whitley, Leuluai.

Salford: O'Brien; Carney, Sa'u, Bibby, Vidot; Lui, Dobson; Kopczak, Tomkins, G Griffin, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, Flanagan. Subs: Hauraki, A Walne, Joseph, Lannon.

Referee: J Child.

Half-time: 12-4 .