Wids’ win a real bonus as fine run continues
TRAFFORD MV ....................................... 30 WIDNES..................................................... 36
WIDNES made it five wins from five with an outstanding bonus point victory at MacPherson Park last Saturday afternoon.
But, they were pushed all the way by a determined Trafford side that were desperate to recover their early season form which had lifted them to the top of the table following an outstanding unbeaten start.
Instead, though, they found themselves slipping to a third straight league reverse at the hands of the Red-andBlacks who now have them firmly in their sights just a single point behind them in the table after their own slow start to the campaign.
Not that any of that looked possible in the opening quarter.
The visitors barely saw anything of the ball during those early stages, and after just 10 minutes play the away team found themselves trailing to a Patrick Eccles penalty.
There was some temporary respite as successive penalties helped clear the visitors’ line, but on 20 minutes, wing man Jamie Kingdom strode clear to score a try which was converted to suddenly open up a 10-point advantage.
At this stage, Widnes desperately needed to get their hands on some meaningful possession, and when a Trafford player was binned for a deliberate knock down, their response was immediate as Tom O’Neill picked up from the base of the scrum to score.
Andy Owens was able to add the extras to reduce the arrears to just three points.
Eager to make the extra man count, a long-range Owens break eventually saw the ball spun out wide for top try scorer Arnie Haydock to sell an outrageous dummy and stroll through a big gap in the Trafford defence to score the Wids’ second try.
With Owens again on target with the conversion, Widnes now found themselves in front on the scoreboard for the first time.
Owens then missed with a long-range penalty, but three minutes later converted a much more difficult attempt to extend the away team’s advantage.
After that slow start, the Wids’ tails were now up, and Jamie Patient could have scored another try before the ball went loose and the chance was lost.
Instead, the only other points of the half, was a late Trafford penalty which finally brought an end to proceedings and make it game on again in the second 40 minutes.
The visitors needed a positive start to the second half if they were to keep hold of their slender advantage, and it came in the way of a smart, long-range touchfinder which got them close.
This was followed by a decent run from Aaron Duggan, before Justin Winstanley then had a try chalked off by the official for a forward pass.
The visitors were not going to be denied for long though, and with their tails up, Patient strolled through a big gap in the Trafford defence to score a try, converted by Owens which helped open up an 11-point advantage.
Desperately seeking a way back, Trafford were able to convert a penalty to make it 24-16.
At this point, and despite their lead, ● Widnes were not at all helping themselves as the self-inflicted error count, matched by some poor game management continued to invite Trafford back into the contest.
Indeed, that was how it turned out, as soon afterwards a converted try got the home side to within a point at 24-23.
With the game now back in the melting pot, the next score was always going to be vital, and fortunately it went the way of the visitors, as Patient found the supporting Josh Kenyon who raced clear to score.
With Owens again converting, the score moved out to a more comfortable looking margin, and it was to get even better soon afterwards as Ryan Millington sent a pinpoint diagonal chip through for Josh Paton to collect and step inside to score.
In a frantic last few minutes, Trafford threw everything they had left at the Wids’ defence in an effort to get back into the contest, and although they were able to add a late converted try which reduced the deficit, there was to be no grandstand finish as the visitors went on to claim this vital bonus point victory.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for both the second and third teams as both lost their respective Halbro League fixtures.
Next up for the senior side is another home fixture against Aldwinians at Heath Road.
This will be the second meeting between the pair in just three weeks, following the Red-and-Blacks’ comfortable victory in the League Cup.
And, if that was not enough, the pair then meet again a week later, this time in the semi-final of the Lancashire Trophy at Audenshaw Park.
But, back to this week, and the two teams will be meeting in the ADM Premier League for the first time this season, and it will be a game that is vital for both sides.
The home outfit will be looking to make it a sixth straight win to keep themselves in touch with the leading group. The visitors, on the other hand, will be looking to make it back-to-back victories after last weekend’s outstanding 18-17 victory against former league leaders Oldham.
Either way, this will be a really tough challenge for the Red-and-Blacks, who will no doubt be considered as favourites, but who know that nothing can be taken for granted as they look to climb the table in the run up to the Christmas break.
Spectators are reminded that games now kick-off at the earlier time of 2.15pm.