Widnes boosted their engage Super League survival hopes and dragged Wakefield into the relegation dogfight with a terrific seven-try show at Belle Vue.

The vibrant Vikings ended their five-match losing run in style to haul themselves off the foot of the table and close the gap on the ninth-placed Wildcats to just four points.

Widnes coach Frank Endacott labelled the game a four-pointer in the Vikings' battle for survival and he will be delighted his side's efforts in an eventful match in which three players were sin-binned and four spent time in the blood bin.

Scrum-half Stephen Myler scored 22 of their points with a try and nine goals from as many attempts but the victory platform was laid by a dominant pack in which Shane Millard, Terry O'Connor and John Stankevitch were outstanding.

Wakefield, who have won just one of their last five matches, suffered an early blow with the loss of forward David Wrench with a badly-smashed face, the result of collision with team-mate Darrell Griffin.

Simon Finnigan (Widnes), Michael Korkidas (Wakefield) and Sid Domic (Wakefield) were also forced into the blood bin during a ferocious half which began with a flare-up.

Stankevitch was shown the yellow card after only 90 seconds following a spat with Korkidas but the Vikings still managed to score the game's first two tries while down to 12 men.

O'Connor crashed over from Owen Craigie's inside pass and influential skipper Millard fashioned another score for loose forward Simon Finnigan.

Myler landed both conversions to put his side 12-0 up but the Wildcats hit back with two tries in four minutes from winger Colum Halpenny.

The Australian marked his return from a six-week lay-off by touching down straight from a scrum after smart work by loose forward Rob Spicer and then collected a high kick from scrum-half Ben Jeffries to register his second.

Undeterred, Widnes continued to bely their League position by producing some enterprising rugby and Wakefield struggled against their continued offloads.

Former Wakefield centre Adam Hughes took an inside ball from impressive second rower Sala Fa'alogo on 20 minutes and Myler stretched his side's lead to 20-10 with a conversion and penalty.

The home side were down to 12 men with Griffin sin-binned for a professional foul on 26 minutes and they went further behind when Domic was deceived by a wicked bounce from Craigie's kick, allowing Myler an easy try.

Wakefield kept themselves in touch when Jeffries and Steve Snitch carved out a try for French international Olivier Elima, to which Jamie Rooney added his second goal.

But the lively Vikings added a fifth try just before half-time, with centre Aaron Moule forcing his way over at the corner, and Myler extended his side's lead to 34-16 early in the second half with a second penalty, his seventh success from as many attempts.

Wakefield scored a fourth try when Rooney supported a break by Jeffries and he kicked his third goal but their hopes ended when Widnes full-back Gary Connolly rolled back the years with a brilliant tackle to deny Domic in full flight for the line.

Vikings substitute Mark Smith then made his mark with two tries in 15 minutes and Myler maintained his 100% record with the boot to stretch his side's lead to 46-22.

Korkidas became the third player to be sin-binned when he was punished for holding down on 63 minutes but the 12-man Wildcats scored two tries in his absence to give the home fans a flicker of hope.

Demetrio grabbed an interception try against his old club and Jeffries scythed through the visitors defence for their sixth try.

But Craigie eased any fears the Vikings might have had with a drop goal as they comfortably held on for victory.