Wids’ unbeaten start ends at powerful Port
SOUTHPORT............................................. 30 WIDNES....................................................... 8
NEWLY-PROMOTED Southport were worthy winners in this South Lancs/Cheshire One contest at Waterloo Road on Saturday.
Widnes were simply ‘out-enthused’ in a one-sided second half in a game which saw the home side score 30 unanswered points after earlier trailing 8-0.
The result put an end to Widnes’s previous three-match unbeaten run, whilst for ‘Port, this would be a major feather in their cap.
It would also send out a statement of intent to the rest of the league that they will be more than capable of holding their own in this division following promotion last term.
In short, Widnes could, and should have done better in that first period – they bombed several chances.
And although Southport did likewise on occasions, they were able to recognise that fact at half-time and put right the wrongs of that first 40 minutes to go on and complete the job in hand.
The visitors began the game well enough, and a couple of early errors were capitalised upon as Justin Winstanley went on a long run before being hauled down.
After a booming tackle in midfield, Widnes then lost centre Dave Welsh with a hamstring injury, which forced a reshuffle in the backline and the introduction of Jamie Patient.
And, it didn’t take for the youngster to make his mark, as the ball was quickly shipped out wide across the back line to get the replacement over for a try with his very first touch.
Liam Clarke then made a break, but the support was too late in arriving and the opportunity was missed.
Moments later, it was Southport’s turn to attack from deep, but they too were unable to make it count.
After 24 minutes, Widnes were awarded a penalty, and Kevin Leadbetter’s low flat effort somehow found the target to make the score 8-0 in favour of the visitors.
Eight minutes later, successive penalties earned Southport some decent field position, and at the umpteenth time of asking they finally succeeded in getting over the whitewash for a try from a rolling maul by Josh Critchley to reduce the deficit.
In a frantic last few minutes, Kevin Leadbetter missed with a couple of penalty attempts before Southport launched a long distance raid on the stroke of halftime but without success as the period drew to a close.
On the evidence of the first 40 minutes, the half-time team talk for both sides would probably have been about patience, composure and application and cutting out the mistakes and not always trying to score at every opportunity. But, which side would respond and put those instructions into practice?
Well, that answer wasn’t long in coming, as Southport – helped along by a penalty for a high tackle – scored a wellworked try from Tom Peacock after some decent work by the forwards to get their noses in front at 10-8.
Visibly buoyed by the score, the restart was followed by a booming 70m touch-finder to get Southport within earshot of their opponents’ danger zone once again.
And this time they did not need asking twice as they opened up the Widnes defence for Sam Cross to score a try converted by Charlie Attis which made the score 17-8.
Widnes’s task was made even harder just a few minutes later as they conceded a penalty converted by Attis which increased the home advantage to a dozen points.
The visitors did their best to get back into the game, but the more they tried the more it looked like the game was already gone and it just wasn’t going to be their day.
Indeed, Southport soon endorsed that message, as a lovely flowing move involving several pair of hands over a distance of some 50m saw them cross for an excellent try from Dylan Norbury converted in style by Jake Mann.
At 27-8 there was absolutely no way back now for the visitors, but there was still time for Southport to rub salt into the Widnes wounds by adding a late Attis penalty to complete a job well done, and send their supporters home happy.
WIDNES’S second XV and third teams continued with their impressive run of form with victories over Broughton Park thirds and Liverpool Collegiate fourths respectively. Both teams remain unbeaten and now top their respective divisions in the Raging Bull Leagues.
WIDNES COLTS carved out a 45-31 victory against a heavier and relentless Sefton side that were determined to apply pressure and keep the game going until the final whistle. The home side were not really at the races but did score seven tries through man-of-the-match Allan Breeden who crossed five times, Will Patient and Matt Geraghty, whilst Josh Salter kicked five conversions.
WITH their proud unbeaten run now gone as well as losing top spot in the table, Widnes face another difficult game on Saturday when they take on Glossop at Heath Road.
Opponents Glossop have also made a good start in the league themselves with three wins from four, including a narrow one point victory over Broughton Park last weekend.
Lee McDermott’s men will be looking to put last weekend’s disappointment behind them as quickly as possible, but with a build-up of injuries beginning to have an impact on the backline in particular, another tough test awaits.
They should, though, be able to welcome back a handful of players who were missing last week to bolster the squad. The game kicks-off at 3pm.