WIDNES Vikings 1895 Cup campaign got off to a losing start, with a 18-6 reverse at Swinton Lions' Heywood Road.
Vikings had only a Kieran Dixon try and penalty goal to show for their first competitive outing of 2024.
It leaves them with a mountain to climb to qualify for quarter finals of the competition with Swinton topping the group having beaten both North Wales and Vikings.
The top team in each group advance to the quarter-finals of the competition alongside the best-performing second-placed side, with the 1895 Cup from there onwards adopting a knockout format.
Vikings would need a remarkable result at North Wales in a fortnight's time to lift them above the other other potentially best-placed runners up.
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