Wids victorious but it’s not handed on a Plate
ALDWINIANS........................................... 10 WIDNES..................................................... 15 IDNES came from behind to emerge victorious at Manchester-based Aldwinians in the quarter-finals of the Lancashire Plate.
They now have a semi-final to look forward to in a few weeks’ time, with a great opportunity to reprise their role as winners of silverware which they last completed in 2012 when they lifted the Lancashire Trophy. But, it wasn’t easy. Far from it. They were second best for long periods – especially in that first half – before eventually rolling up their collective sleeves to respond and go on to finally claim the spoils.
The home side, though, must have been left scratching their heads as to how they managed to lose this game.
They were patient, organised and structured in the first 40 minutes, and much better than their 10-0 half-time advantage suggested. But, points mean prizes, and the visitors can have done no more than produce a suitable response in that second period to get themselves over the finishing line.
Widnes had yet more changes to their line-up with debutant Adam Lawton joining Ryan Millington to form a new centre partnership. Adam Loughnane was in at hooker for his first game as was Fili Mafi, whilst Ben McQuillan was making his debut from the bench.
As the game got underway, it was the home side that were quickest off the mark and they were soon camped deep in the Widnes quarter of the field.
And, it wasn’t long before their patient and enthusiastic approach paid dividends as they stretched the red-andblacks out wide to get Alex Hughes in at the corner for a deserved opening try.
Widnes made their way upfield from
W● the re-start, but any number of selfinflicted errors – which haunted them throughout the first half – were hurting their chances of getting back on level terms.
Indeed, it was the home side who continued to dominate proceedings, and they always looked more than capable of adding to their tally, something which they managed to achieve after 28 minutes, when big number eight Dave Toothill picked up to crash over to double his side’s advantage.
At this stage, there had not been much for the visiting supporters to get excited about. There was only a half break from full-back Andy Owens which finally got them deep into the Aldwinians half, but, all too often those errors were never that far away, which prevented them from troubling the scoreboard operator as the half finally drew to a close.
If Widnes were to have a chance of getting back into this game, then they needed a positive, early response, and a knock-on straight from the kick-off gave them the perfect opportunity as they were immediately awarded a penalty which allowed full-back Owens to open their account with a three-pointer.
Aldwinians, though, still looked favourites to be the likely victors as they sought out another score which would surely have put the game to bed.
But on the hour mark, things suddenly began to change. Aldwinians had a player sent to the sin-bin and Widnes were able to use their extra man to good effect to get centre Lawton striding his way over the line for a try on his first appearance for the club.
Owens then held his nerve to add the conversion meaning that it was allsquare again at 10-10.
As the visitors’ confidence began to grow in the game, Aldwinians started to look a little more vulnerable and they began to make a few mistakes as they drifted away from the gameplan that had served them so well earlier in the piece.
And, Widnes did not need asking twice as they continued with their fightback. Firstly, a welcome long raking touch-finder from Kevin Leadbetter helped ease the pressure and set up some decent field position, before a break from scrum-half Gavin Hatton set up the opportunity for his inside pass to find Mike Jones in support who was able to race clear and score the try that gave his side the lead for the very first time.
The final minutes saw the home side hit Widnes with everything they had in an effort to regain the initiative once again, but the visitors were a different team now, and a solid red-and-black defensive line saw them repel all that their opponents could throw at them before the final whistle sounded to bring an end to proceedings. ● IN the other senior cup games, the seconds crashed out of the BEST Trophy 33-10 at West Park, whilst the thirds had better luck in the BEST Shield, as they edged out Northwich 22-19 to progress. ● AFTER their second away win on the bounce, Lee McDermott’s outfit make a return to league action with a home game against Leigh at Heath Road this Saturday afternoon.
Leigh, who suffered relegation from North One West last term – as Widnes had done the previous season – currently sit in seventh place, two spots and two points ahead of their hosts. So, with little or nothing between them on the league ladder and a similar playing record, the scene could well be set for yet another close and thrilling encounter.
The game kicks-off at 3pm.