Bongs strike to leave Wids with headache
TYLDESLEY .............................................. 32 WIDNES..................................................... 19
WIDNES were comfortably sent packing by newly-promoted Tyldesley at St George’s Park last Saturday afternoon.
It was a disappointing result after their loss the previous week, and the defeat has sent them tumbling down the table into 10th place.
The ‘Bongs’, on the other hand, will have been delighted with this win, as it not only gives them five more valuable league points, but it has also sent out a strong message to the rest of the division that they are likely to be a real threat this term.
The weather for the game was pretty much perfect for rugby. The playing surface was in great condition, and whilst there was a chilly breeze blowing down the pitch which stiffened later on, it did give way to some brighter autumn sunshine in the closing quarter.
But, the conditions were about as good as it was going to get for Widnes as they were hit with a Tyldesley whirlwind inside the opening quarter.
Indeed, the home side were scoring at a rate of a point of minute in the early stages, which all but extinguished any chance the visitors had of getting something from the encounter.
The Bongs got the game underway, and they were soon all over Widnes like a rash in an enthusiastic opening.
It was not long before they were able to stretch the Widnes defence out wide to get Danny Berrisford in at the corner for an unconverted try.
Just three minutes later, a Widnes pass was intercepted by centre Mark Dickinson who raced clear to touch down under the posts. The conversion also went over to make the score 12-0 after just 10 minutes.
An injury to a Tyldesley player held up proceedings for a short while, but immediately upon the resumption, prop-forward Damien Twizell scored to increase the Bongs’ advantage to 17 points.
Looking to secure an early four try bonus point, the home side continued to press, but eventually on 35 minutes, ● Widnes were finally able to open their account as Mike Geraghty arrived at pace to take a short pass and crash over for a try that was successfully converted by Kevin Leadbetter.
Just for a short while then, it looked as if the try had breathed some new life into Widnes’s stuttering challenge and a couple of raking touch-finders allowed the visitors to keep up their newly-found forward momentum.
And with a score of only 17-7 at halftime, there remained some hope that, despite their error-ridden first 40 minutes, they just might be able to find a way back into the contest in the second half.
And the second 40 minutes began well enough for Widnes with Antony Leadbetter making a half-break up the touch- line. However, it was Tyldesley who had the first scoring opportunity of the half with a penalty which sailed narrowly wide of the target.
Tyldesley then had a man sent to the sin-bin giving Widnes some hope that they could make their numerical advantage count.
Instead, though, it was the home side who hit back with a double whammy in quick succession.
Firstly, Maloney knocked over a penalty, before a calamitous error in defence allowed centre Dickinson to collect the ball and stroll clear for his second try of the afternoon. With the conversion also going over, the Bongs’ lead had suddenly increased to 20 points.
Despite that, Widnes hooker Liam Clarke then went on a run for the visitors, with the move ending with man-of -the-match Geraghty crashing over for his second score. Kevin Leadbetter added the conversion to give them just a glimmer of hope at 27-14.
The visitors’ optimism was misplaced though, and helped along by yet more self-inflicted errors – something which had haunted them throughout this match – it eventually contributed to second-rower Craig Pulman crossing for another Tyldesley try which finally secured the result.
With the game out of sight now, there was still enough time for Gavin Hatton to make a run before Pawel Makles scored a late consolation five-pointer for the visitors to finally round off proceedings and a bad day at the office for the Widnes faithful. ● IN the only other senior fixture, the thirds edged out Orrell St James in a 25-24 thriller to lift themselves up the table in Division Four West. Widne ● WIDNES U16s played the Vale of Lune on Sunday in the Lancashire Cup and came away with an excellent win by 33-17. In what was a real team performance they scored tries through Thomas Wright who went over twice, David Parr, Bradley Gatcliffe and Jack Roberts, with Matty Owens adding four conversions. ● LEE McDERMOTT’S outfit face yet another tough challenge this weekend, when they entertain league leaders Broughton Park at Heath Road on Saturday afternoon.
Park went to the top of the pile last Saturday with an outstanding win against previously unbeaten Glossop to secure their third successive victory and will be looking to maintain that advantage.
Widnes, meanwhile, will be looking for their first win in three to re-ignite their own challenge and lift themselves up the table after dropping to 10th spot.
In the corresponding fixture last season, Widnes put an end to Park’s unbeaten start with a 23-12 win, and more of the same on Saturday will be a welcome tonic to the men in red-andblack.
In the only other senior fixture taking place this weekend, Widnes’s second XV travel along the M56 to take on Bowdon at Clay Lane. Both games kick-off at 3pm.