Widnes eventually emerge victorious in penalty-plagued encounter

Blackburn Colts 20

Widnes Colts 33 IN a stop-start game it was the Wids who took the points having held the lead since the third minute of the game.

The contest never really flowed and Widnes always looked like they had more in reserve when it was needed.

Jamie Hughes opened the scoring after a good break by Tom Whitfield and some strong running from Sean Glover gave the Wids some excellent field position. Quick ball from the back of a ruck and slick passing to Hughes’s wing saw him cut back inside and cross the whitewash.

On the 10 minute mark Blackburn found touch from a penalty deep inside the Widnes half, and from the resulting catch and drive crossed to make it 5-5.

Widnes replied immediately. Having won good ball, Lewis Bates passed to scrum-half Alex Jones. He weaved his way 15 metres to the line having stepped past three wouldbe Blackburn defenders. The number nine successfully converted his own try.

Widnes were then shown the first of two yellow cards that they were to pick up during the game.

Having been reduced to 14 men, Widnes found themselves on the wrong end of the penalty count with a lot more defending to do.

A great solo effort, however, from Matt Geraghty relieved the pressure when he intercepted and raced 70 metres downfield to increase the Widnes lead. Once again Jones landed the conversion.

Blackburn, though, were determined to make their one-man advantage tell and continued to apply pressure testing the Widnes defence.

Widnes were repeatedly penalised for being offside allowing Blackburn to get within touching distance of the tryline. The pressure eventually told and Blackburn crossed again from close-range for their second try, which they failed to convert.

With half-time looming and the Wids back up to 15 it was they who were finishing stronger.

A fine break from Dan Doyle had Blackburn retreating, and some fast recycling from the Widnes pack allowed Josh Salter to pick and go from the back of a ruck and score the final try of the half.

Jones once again added the extras to make it 26-10 at the interval.

The second half was just like the first with Widnes on the wrong end of a high penalty count.

Blackburn had long spells of possession punctuated by breaks upfield by Widnes.

The tough Widnes rearguard was punctured twice more by Blackburn, who with 15 minutes left had got to within six points of Widnes at 26-20.

Both sides were shown a yellow card in the second half for separate incidents, but the game concluded with both teams back up to a full compliment.

With less than 10 minutes to play a couple of great runs, first from Allan Breeden then from Jones took Widnes away from their line, followed by fast hands from Rob Cooke and Salter who combined to put Salesi Tuiono away. Salesi still had defenders to beat, but a couple of great sidesteps took him clear of the opposition to score under the sticks. Jones added the extras for a final score of 33-20.

This wasn’t the most entertaining game of rugby Widnes have played this season, but they got ahead and managed to stay in front, despite being heavily penalised by the referee.