Points were shared for a second time in round 17 as Widnes came from behind to draw with Catalan 32-32.

Jack Owens levelled it up with a late penalty goal and with Scott Dureau in an ambulance on his way to hospital, Gregory Mounis missed a drop goal attempt.

Widnes started poorly with an error strewn first five minutes and their opponents capitalized through French starlet, Morgan Escare.

Scott Dureau, in only his second game of the year after returning from a pre-season health scare, found veteran Steve Menzies who slipped an inch perfect grubber kick inside.

The Vikings hit back ten minutes later, Paddy Flynn rounding off a slick looking move to the right flank. Youngster, Jack Owens locked the scores at 6-6 with his first conversion.

Chris Dean was lucky to stay on the field for a clattering shoulder charge on the Dragons’ Mikael Simon, an incident placed on report by ref, Phil Bentham.

Winger, Jack Owens came close to flicking a misplaced Kevin Brown kick back
inside to his centre, but from the resultant scrum, Escare dashed in for a 90 metre attempt.

A more accurate Brown kick then allowed Owens to touch down, on the side of Menzies who was hobbling due to an injury sustained in back play.

Owens narrowly missed his attempt at the extras and just as it looked like the home side would trail at the break, they struck on the left again.

Cameron Phelps was the try scorer but he caused a little commotion with his celebration which involved throwing the ball in the face of Daryl Millard. Owens missed a second kick leaving the half-time score at 14-12.

And just five minutes into the second half, Frank Winterstein powered over to give his side a 20-12 lead sparking chants of “We’re all going to Wembley,” from the Vikings faithful.

But Escare appeared again, scoring probably the softest try of his career thus far with a one metre scoot from dummy-half.

Vincent Duport and Zeb Taia then scored two just as easy tries on the wing of Paddy Flynn which was looking increasingly vulnerable.

But the worrying factor was the injury to Dureau whose absence forced Gregory Mounis to take over kicking duties.

Owens went in for his second of the afternoon and added the extras but Kevin Larroyer immediately re-instated the Dragons an eight point lead.

With six minutes to play, Winterstein powered home again, putting the Vikings just two points away with try number two.

Widnes then claimed a point with just ninety seconds to go when Owens coolly converted a penalty goal.

Widnes: Hanbury, Flynn, Marsh, Phelps, Owens, Brown, Mellor, O’Carroll, Clarke, Pickersgill, Dean, Allen, Leuluai.
Replacements: Winterstein, Joseph, Kavanagh, White.

T: Owens 2, Winterstein 2, Flynn, Phelps,
G: Owens 4/7


Catalan: Escare, Vaccari, Menzies, Duport, Millard, Pryce, Dureau, Simon, Henderson, Casty, Taia, Larroyer, Mounis.
Replacements: Maria, Pelissier, Fakir, Baile.

T: Escare 3, Duport, Taia
G: Dureau 3/3, Mounis 0/2

Referee: Phil Bentham

MONDAY MORNING UPDATE :

A French club official said: "Scott's fine. He got a knock in the game and that gave him a little bit of double vision.

"It's not connected to what happened before and he's now waiting to get the all clear to go home."