Wids are lords of the Manor with first win
● OLDHAM ................................................... 14 WIDNES..................................................... 17
AFTER three previous failed attempts, Widnes RUFC finally secured their first victory in the ADM Premier Division at Manor Park last Saturday afternoon.
It was not always pretty, but such is the competitiveness of this division, a win of any kind what just what the Red-andBlacks needed to reinvigorate their stuttering start to the campaign.
And, whilst the away team were left to celebrate a terrific win which lifted them a place in the table, the hosts will have been left mightily disappointed to have lost the game as well as surrendering their previously excellent unbeaten start.
The weather conditions were almost perfect for the game.
The pitch was in immaculate condition and the sun was shining although there was a stiff, chilly breeze blowing around.
The early field position went the way of the away team who, helped along by a few early penalties, were able to camp out close to the Oldham line.
They went close several times, and on one occasion almost got over the whitewash but were held up over the line by some committed Oldham defence.
Unable to make any of their advantage count, the longer the half went on the more it began to look like their lack of patience and composure could potentially come back to haunt them later in the piece.
Indeed, that was how things transpired on 23 minutes, as the home side put together some decent phases to send Bobby Cullen crashing over the line to score a try from close-range.
With the conversion also going over from Will Mellor, Oldham were up 7-0.
Widnes replied almost immediately with another attacking move which ended with Ben McQuillan being bundled into touch.
They were not going to be denied for long though, as the forwards got to work close enough for Sam Bryan to score a try which was converted by Andy Owens to make it all-square at 7-7.
Almost straight away, some out of turn back-chat towards the referee soon got Widnes up field once again from where the forwards put in another decent shift enabling Arnie Haydock to peel off a rolling maul to score another of his trademark tries.
With Owens again on target, the visitors were now in the lead at 14-7.
With the score remaining unchanged by the time the interval was reached, Oldham knew they needed a positive response at the start of the second 40 minutes.
However, the errors and the rush to get the job done in critical areas of the field continued to plague both teams.
After weathering the early onslaught, the excellent Tom O’Neill then made a strong run down the middle of the field, before there was a timely interception at the opposite end from Bryan as Oldham threatened once again.
As the home side continued to press, they had a five-pointer chalked off by the referee for an earlier foot in touch.
However, their tails were up now, and with not too many minutes left in the contest, Oldham were finally able to get back on level terms with a converted try to set up a grandstand finish.
In the event, Oldham then coughed up a penalty some 45 metres out.
With the wind in his favour, young fullback Owens – who had another great game along with the returning Mike Jones – calmly held his nerve to strike over the long-range kick which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides. ● In the other senior fixture, Widnes’s seconds were easy winners against Crewe & Nantwich in Division Two South. ● Next up for the first XV is a home game against Didsbury Toc H at Heath Road this Saturday afternoon.
This will be another game against unfamiliar opponents, although the Widnes players and coaching staff will be acutely aware of the very positive start their South Manchester opponents have made in the new surroundings of the ADM Premier League.
Didsbury have secured three wins from their four games so far.
They thrashed Liverpool St Helens in the opening round at Moss Lane, before edging out Aldwinians 25-23 in round two.
They then surrendered their unbeaten start at Oldham, before returning to winning ways last weekend with a 41-12 victory against lowly Littleborough. ● It is cup weekend on Saturday for the other senior teams.
The seconds play host to Colne & Nelson in the Robinsons Brewery Trophy, whilst Widnes’s thirds have to make the trip to Hope Valley in the next round of the Shield competition.