Tough start for Widnes

ALTHOUGH it is just a few short weeks since the end of the 2016-17 season for Widnes RUFC, fixtures for the forthcoming South Lancs/ Cheshire One campaign have been released.

And, there are a number of changes to the makeup of the division. Out go Manchester as champions and Douglas as runnersup – who have both moved up into North One West, whilst at the bottom end, both Wigan and Oswestry have dropped out following relegation.

The four new clubs to replace them are Tyldesley, Hoylake, West Park and Leigh – not that those teams will need any sort of introduction to the men from Heath Road, having faced each other a number of times over recent seasons. For the record, the other remaining teams in the division will be Broughton Park, Bowdon, Glossop, Liverpool St Helens, Sefton, Southport, New Brighton, Anselmians, and Manchester Medics for the new season which begins on September 2.

The opening month of the campaign will provide Lee McDermott’s men with a tough challenge. They start with a home clash against Hoylake, followed by games against Southport (A), Glossop (H), Tyldesley (A) and Broughton Park (H).

Head coach McDermott said: “We are expecting nothing other than another tough season, but, it is a challenge we are all ready for and looking forward to.

He added: “We have already started extra training on a Saturday morning in readiness for pre-season training which begins at the end of the month, and we will all be fully prepared and ready to go when the new campaign starts.”