Widnes close in on promotion

WIDNES continued their magnificent charge towards promotion with victory over Sale on Saturday.

Tom Evans’ side posted 178-5 after a well-crafted knock of 69 from Matt Burns and Johnathan Campbell’s unbeaten 67 – from just 42 balls – made Sale skipper Keith Wellings’ decision to field first look questionable.

In response, the visitors limped to a paltry 92 all out after Majid Majeed snared four wickets for the loss of just 24 runs.

Widnes have now lost just one of their last 18 games and are two points clear of thirdplace Upton in the final Cheshire County Division One promotion place with three games remaining.

With Davenham next up this weekend, Evans has warned his players there is still work to do.

He said: “This is what we were aiming for. We knew it would be a challenge to get here but there’s also a lot of confidence in the team and a will to win with the lads.

“We want to be promoted. We want to play against the best opposition we can play against to improve ourselves and that’s what we’ve spoken a lot about this season, where do we want to be next season, what can we do ourselves to make that happen?

“It’s so far so good and we’re nearly there but we’re not over the line yet. Upton are two points behind us which is just one wicket.”

Widnes face runaway leaders Hyde following their encounter with Davenham and despite changing-room talk about the fixture, Evans is determined not to get carried away.

“To be honest it’s Davenham this weekend and I’m not looking past that one,” he added.

“A few of the lads have mentioned Hyde is a must-win game but if we bottle it against Davenham, shall we say, that game is then irrelevant.

“It’s all about going next game, next ball and going into it like we have been, not thinking too far ahead and doing what we can to win this game. Where we finish is then where we deserve to be.”