Widnes completed a memorable first season in Super League with victory in a 14-try thriller at the Halton Stadium.

Widnes centre Adam Hughes led the rout with a personal tally of 24 points - a hat-trick of tries and six goals - while Vikings winger Paul Devlin also grabbed three tries.

Unfortunately for the Vikings it was not enough to extend their season.

They just missed out on sixth spot after Castleford's victory over Salford secured the Tigers a place in the end-of-season play-offs.

There was an explosive start to the game with three tries in the opening eight minutes.

Widnes were ahead within 60 seconds as Devlin finished off a flowing passing movement before opposite winger Lee Greenwood raced 50 metres for Halifax's opening score.

But back came the Vikings and Chris Percival went over in the corner to give Widnes an early 12-4 lead.

The home side then took a firm stranglehold on proceedings with three tries in the space of 11 minutes.

Hughes, Stuart Spruce and Phil Cantillon all touched down with Hughes kicking four first-half conversions.

Halifax did have the final word at the end of the first half when Jason Flowers grabbed the visitors' second try to reduce the deficit to 28-12 at half time.

The Blue Sox threatened a comeback when winger Robbie Beckett crossed for two tries in the first eight minutes of the second half to cut the deficit to just six points at 28-22.

But Widnes steadied the ship and when Hughes crossed for his second try on 57 minutes the Vikings then ran away with the game in the final quarter with four further tries.

Devlin crossed twice to claim his hat-trick, Hughes then scored his third try of the afternoon and Mike Briggs also got in on the act with a touchdown.

Widnes: Spruce, Percival, Dimitrio, Hughes, Devlin, Weston, Eaton, Mills, Cantillon, Relf, Potter, McCurrie, Frame. Replacements: Carter, Briggs, Haggerty, Atcheson.

Halifax: Flowers, Beckett, Clayton, Woods, L. Greenwood, Dunemann, Finn, Hobson, G. Greenwood, Thackray, Netherton, Gannon, Bloem. Replacements: Birchall, Goldspink, Davidson, Chapman.

Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan).