LONDON BRONCOS 40, WIDNES 18 LONDON Broncos leapfrogged Widnes with a dazzling seven-try performance in Aberavon, Wales on Sunday in their first home Super League victory of the season, albeit 170 miles from their Griffin Park base.

It was ironic that after failing in four previous home matches, Broncos should finally win when going on the road to Wales because Griffin Park was being re-seeded.

And, with both St Helens and Warrington suffering defeats, Broncos climbed to sixth position - their highest of the season - and a top six finish will earn them a place in the play-offs. Chris Thorman was again in brilliant kicking form with seven goals as well as grabbing a try.

After going 6-0 behind early on through a try by former Bronco Shane Millard, London put on a great show for the 3,108 strong crowd in the valleys.

They led 34-6 at half-time with two tries from Paul Sykes and others by Bill Peden, Chris Thorman, Tommy Gallagher and the in form Dennis Moran plus five conversions from Thorman.

In the second period London seemed to relax and the Vikings grabbed two tries by Cantillon and Millard, both of which O’Neill converted, before Moran crossed again following scintillating work by Tony Martin.

In the dying minutes the crowd was willing Moran to score a third to make it three successive hat-tricks, but the makeshift full-back had to settle for an impressive eight tries in three successive games.

London coach Tony Rea was full of praise for his half backs. He said: “Rob Purdham and Chris Thorman are forming a strong combination at half-back. Thorman is playing exceptionally well and he must be a strong contender for a place in the Yorkshire representative team against Lancashire on July 2nd.” He also explained the thinking behind Dennis Moran’s remarkable switch to full-back. Rea commented: “The aim was to give Moran a bit of freedom and lift the pressure on him after he missed the first six weeks of the season.

“We worked hard to get ourselves on a roll in the first half and we kept it up. We knew it would be different in the second half and we stopped Widnes getting a similar type of roll.” Broncos: D Moran, S. Hall, T. Martin, N. Roy, P. Sykes, R. Purdan, C. Thorman, R. Baud, N. Budworth, S. Retchless, B. Peden, M. Toshack, J. Dymock. Subs: A.King, T. Gallagher, R. Marshall, A. Hamilton.

This Sunday Broncos are away to Castleford (3.30pm) and are likely to field an unchanged side as they bid to gain their fourth successive win.

Broncos’ scheduled home fixture against Huddersfield Giants on Sunday June 22nd has had to be postponed as the Griffin Park pitch will still be under repair.

Broncos chief executive Nic Cartwright says: “We are constantly facing added challenges because we do not own our own ground. It remains a key priority for this club to secure a permanent home, a ground that we do have a stake in, so as to avoid these types of variables outside our own control.” When the Broncos do return to Griffin Park to play Hull on Saturday July 5th it will be the start of a very busy month for them. The Bradford game, which was postponed in April because the Bulls made it through to the Challenge Cup final, will now be played at Griffin Park at 8pm on Wednesday July 30th.

The 2002 Cup Champions (Wigan), the 2003 Cup Champions (Bradford) and the current Tetley’s Super League Champions (St Helens) will all visit Brentford inside 14 days.

Tickets for all Broncos home games can be booked in advance and save £2 per adult ticket. Call 0871 222 1657.

* London Broncos back rower Joe Mbu has been selected for the Tetley's Super League Under-21 side to take on their National League counterparts on Tuesday at Leigh. Joe is currently on a twelve-month loan with Leeds Rhinos.