WARRINGTON loose-forward Jon Clarke ran in a first-ever hat trick of tries as Widnes Vikings went down 44-12 at Halliwell Jones Stadium.

It was a dispiriting night for Vikings' fans that saw their side pull the game back to 18-12 early in the second half before the Wolves ran in five further scores without reply.

Both sides went into the game low on confidence and the opening exchanges reflected the nerves they must have been feeling.

On seven minutes, a second-man play saw Clarke find a gaping hole in the Vikings' defence and he raced over from 20 metres for his first try.

Widnes hit back and took the lead for the first and only time in the match when centre Aaron Moule eluded three would-be tacklers close to the line to plunge over with Stephen Myler converting.

Warrington finally looked to be finding their feet as they looked to play a more expansive game.

They reaped the reward when a short-ball from stand-off Chris Bridge found second row Mike Wainwright who burst through a couple of ineffective tackles to score.

Myler equalised the scores at 8-8 with a penalty before the home side took a grip on the first half.

Prop Ben Westwood appeared to have been halted close to the line but produced a second effort, which saw him stretch out of a tackle to touch down.

Just before the interval, a long Lee Briers pass found Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson who sidestepped through in style to romp over.

Briers first successful conversion gave the Wolves an 18-8 half-time lead.

A try for substitute forward Matt Whitaker early in the second half for Widnes hinted at a revival but Warrington had the bit between their teeth.

Clarke found the same hole in the Widnes defence to fly in for his second and backed up a Westwood break to record his hat trick with the Vikings' defence in disarray.

Skipper Lee Briers was next on the sheet for the Wolves as he breezed through from 30 metres to score his side's seventh touchdown. The home side were now fully in command and New Zealand Test winger Henry Fa'afili took advantage to register a late brace of tries.

The first came when he intercepted a David Mills pass 40 metres out to stroll over and the second when a Briers kick directly from a scrum found nobody at home for the Vikings.

Widnes: Rowlands; Emelio; Moule (1t); Whittle; Ballard; Myler (2g); Hulse; O'Connor; Smith; Mills; Cassidy; Stankevitch; Finnigan; Subs: Whitaker (1t); O'Neill; Crook; Frame.