SCRUM-HALF Anthony Thackeray registered a second half hat-trick but it was to no avail as the Vikings went down 42-36 to Toulouse at Stobart Stadium Halton.

Thackeray's heroics gave Widnes a sniff of a chance to snatch the spoils after a disastrous first half showing saw them trail 30-12 at the interval.

Australian half-back Nathan Wynn was the chief architect behind the French side's domination of the first 40 minutes.

Wynn helped himself to a 22 point haul from two tries and seven goals from as many attempts.

Centre Vincent Duport was another influential figure for the visitors, with a hat-trick of tries to match the feat of Thackeray.

Widnes, it has to be said, were pretty slow out of the blocks and although Matthieu Griffi's early try for Toulouse was matched by a Ben Davies effort, there was already a sense that the Vikings defence was going to struggle to hold the opposition.

And so it proved as two scores from Duport and one each to Wynn and winger Sebatian Payan confirmed the French outfit's dominance.

A try from Vikings second row Matty Strong at least kept the Vikings within touching distance.

One felt it was important Widnes got the first score of the second half.

But it was Olympique who established what looked like an unassailable lead when Duport and Wynn crossed to complete a hat-trick and a brace respectively.

At last the Vikings clicked ino gear against opponents who have gained a reputation in 2010 for not staying the full 80 minutes.

Winger Paddy Flynn's try started the comeback before Thackeray came to the party.

His hat-trick came within the space of fifteen minutes.

With substitute Thomas Coyle also getting in on the scoring act Widnes got themselves within one converted score with a few minutes left on the clock.