Just what the doctor ordered for Wids
● MANCHESTER MEDICS ....... 14 WIDNES.................................... 48 IDNES managed to get their final outstanding South Lancs/Cheshire One fixture out of the way at the third time of asking with a comfortable victory against the Medics.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at Grey Mare Lane a month ago but was called off at the last moment because the host team could not fulfil their front row obligations. A new date was then found in the diary for the game in Manchester, before then being switched to Heath Road at the 11th hour.
And, whilst the defeat will have been a bitter pill to swallow for the Medics, overall they will have been delighted to simply have survived – albeit by the skin of their teeth in their first season – and send Wigan tumbling out of the division instead.
As for the ‘home’ side, it was simply job done, as they secured a victory which lifted them
Wabove Sefton to confirm a satisfactory halfway finish in the table in what has been an ultra competitive division this term. The weather for the game was pleasant, with a playing surface ideal for free flowing rugby, and Widnes did not fail to disappoint in this regard, although their rather cavalier approach when the easy option would have done saw them bomb more than a handful of try scoring opportunities.
Still, points mean prizes, and Lee McDermott’s men can have done no more than secure a bonus point win to send their supporters home happy on the day with a near 50-point haul.
Early back-to-back penalties got Widnes moving – the second of which allowed Kevin Leadbetter to kick his side into the lead with a three pointer. The captain could then have doubled the advantage with another shot, but this time, the effort sailed just wide of the target.
Relief for the Medics was short-lived though, and some breathtaking handling soon ended with top try scorer Antony Leadbetter cutting back inside to score a try. Not to be outdone, sibling rivalry meant that brother Kevin’s touchline effort was always going to sail straight between the uprights.
Back came the Medics, and shortly after being held up over the line, big number eight Alex Pett picked up from the base of the scrum to crash over for a try converted by Dom Quigley.
The Medics then managed to press the self-destruct button almost immediately from the re-start, which allowed wing ace Antony Leadbetter to react to a poor clearance attempt to collect and score his second try which was again goaled by Kevin.
With their tails up, Fili Mafi then put out a great pass to the supporting pocket rocket and man of the match Justin Winstanley, who found support from Aaron Duggan and ended with Callum Isbell diving over for a 22-7 half-time advantage.
Immediately after the resumption, fullback Gareth Whitfield made a long run to set the scene for captain Kevin Leadbetter to score after another charge down clearance. With the extras also going over the score had quickly extended to 29-7.
Scrum half Mafi was next on the scoresheet as he reacted quickest at the base of the scrum.
With the result assured, Widnes rang the changes with all three replacements of Arnie Haydock, Sam Bryan and James Butler all coming on. And, it didn’t take Haydock long to make an impression, as he crashed over for one of his trademark tries with almost his first touch of the ball.
After that, though, Widnes became a bit sloppy with their finishing. Still, it wasn’t long before Liam Lawton found himself in plenty of space to cross wide out for a try which Kevin Leadbetter also converted.
The Medics never gave up the fight though, and after going close on several occasions only to be denied by some decent scrambling defence, they were able to finally cross the whitewash for a converted try right at SOUTH LANCS/CHESHIRE ONE Manchester ..........26 22 1 3 995 383111 Douglas (I.O.M.) ... 25 22 0 3 1090 374105 Broughton Park.... 26 19 0 7 964 484 95 Glossop ................25 18 0 7 844 347 91 Bowdon ...............25 17 0 8 807 564 82 Liverpool St Helens26 14 0 12 710 678 75 Widnes ................ 26 13 0 13 627 630 69 Sefton.................. 26 13 0 13 599 610 66 Southport ............26 12 11 3 611 696 62 New Brighton....... 26 11 01 5 564 699 47 Anselmians ..........26 7 0 19 520 910 39 Manchester Medics26 4 1 21 451 864 22 Wigan ..................26 40 22 266 1043 22 Oswestry ..............25 2 1 22 288 1054 8
PWDLthe death. ● In the other senior games, the seconds lost against touring side North Pertherton, whilst the thirds confirmed their status as champions of Division Five West with a 21-14 victory against Birkenhead Park.
WIDNES COLTS 17 MANCHESTER COLTS 19
WIDNES Colts came up just short in their efforts to retain the Lancashire Cup as they lost the final at Fleetwood RUFC on Sunday.
Widnes took an early lead with a converted try before Manchester squared things up.
More points saw Widnes extend their advantage to lead 17-12, before Manchester came roaring back into the contest, grabbing a late try and conversion to seal the victory.