Widnes aim to avenge defeat to Southport
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WIDNES RUFC make a welcome return to action this weekend, with a home game against Southport at Heath Road.
After finally saying goodbye to 2016, Lee McDermott’s charges will be hoping for a more positive start to the second half of the campaign, where they are still in with a great chance of climbing the table and challenging for honours despite their mixed form away from home.
And, what better way to start, than with a revenge mission against a side who comfortably put them to the sword at Waterloo Road last September.
Southport – who were promoted last season – have a made a positive start to life in South Lancs/Cheshire One where they currently lie one place below Widnes in the table.
They too, though, have had some mixed form of late, and in their last game were held to a 15-15 draw by bottom side Oswestry, but they do have the added advantage of three games in hand over the men from Heath Road.
So, a win for the home side is absolutely vital if they are to maintain or even extend their slender seven point advantage in the table.
The three-week lay-off should have worked wonders for the squad who suffered any number of injuries throughout that first half of the season, and if they can get some of those missing injured ● Widnes player Mike Jones attracts attention from two Southport opponents when the teams met earlier in the season at Waterloo Road. The sides lock horns again this Saturday at Heath Road. players back, freshened up and raring to go, then there is no reason why they cannot make a real fist of it between now and April.
Meanwhile, the second and third teams also make a return after the Christmas and New Year break.
The seconds are on their travels to take on Broughton Park, anxious to maintain top spot in Division Three South.
Last time out, Widnes handed out a 66-10 thrashing to their South Manchester rivals who are currently ninth in the table, and any sort of result along those lines will help keep the pressure on New Brighton, Holmes Chapel and Capenhurst, who all have Widnes in their sights should they slip up.
In Division Five West, the third XV will be looking to play their first game in nearly a month when they travel down the road for a derby day clash with Liverpool Collegiate.
Both sides have been hampered with teams dropping out of the league or conceding games in recent weeks, so will be looking forward to getting back into action and securing a positive result.
All games kick-off at 2.15pm. ●