Unbeaten run ends in Cup loss to Leigh Finnigan philosophical after Fourth Round exit
THE Vikings lost out to a strong Leigh Centurions side in their Fourth Round Challenge Cup tie, with Brad Holroyd the only try scorer for Widnes.
Widnes made just one change to last Monday’s victory over Dewsbury, as Ollie Brookes came in for Ryan Ince who failed a head assessment after the victory last week.
Leigh got the first try of the game on four minutes when Caleb Aekins found a gap in the Widnes line to land and give the home side the early lead.
The hosts grabbed another ten minutes into the contest, making the most of a penalty given away by Widnes ten from their line as Caleb Aekins got over out wide for his second of the night.
Ed Chamberlain scored next for Leigh after a sweeping move from left to right from the hosts, Sam Stone assisting after a strong carry from Amone.
Widnes got off the mark half an hour into the contest, making the most of a couple of offsides by the home team to send the winger over on the left.
Mark Ioane was sinbinned in a heated finish to the half, which ended 16-4.
Leigh extended their lead four minutes into the second period when Keanan Brand found space out wide after a smart move from Joe Mellor on the last.
Caleb Aekins got his hat-trick not long after with a break from inside his own half.
Ben Reynolds increased the deficit with a penalty goal shortly after the hour mark before Sam Stone added another for Leigh who ran out 38-4 winners in the end.
The Vikings’ focus now turns back to the league, as we take on Barrow Raiders next Monday at home with tickets priced at just £10 for all adults and £5 for children.
“I thought we were second best – Leigh were the better team. They started better than us, we didn’t manage that very well and we got caught by that,” said coach Simon Finnigan.
“We found our way back in before half time and it looked like there was something in the game for us. But in the second half we just let the game get away from us. They were better than us everywhere across the park on the day, and that can happen.
“It’s a disappointing night because it’s a cup game and we’d been going pretty good but we just weren’t at it on the night.
“We’ll leanr from it. We’ve had a good start to the season but Leigh are a good side and we had to be good to beat them – but we had a bad night and they had a good night.
“It didn’t go our way and we were second best all night but there were parts of it that we’ll take into next week because we didn’t give it away. The scoreline suggests we did but there was effort and certain things off the ball we were doing. You can’t win all the time, you are going to have bad days and come up against good teams having good days and that was the case.”
Next up for Vikings is a clash against Barrow Raiders at home next Monday. Finnigan added: “We’ll be ready for that gam,e and you’ll see a different version of us, I’m certain of that.”
Caleb Aekins, Jy Hitchcox, Ed Chamberlain, Bosam Macdonald, Keanan Brand, Ben Reynolds, Joe Mellor, Adam Sidlow, Aaron Smith, Taealoaloa Amone, Josef Wardle, Sam Stone, Atalani Selesele-Asiata.
Edwin Ipape, Mafoa’aeata Hingano, Jacob Jones, Mark Ioane.
Caleb Aekins (3), Ed Chamberlain, Keanan Brand, Sam Stone, Jy Hitchcox.
Ben Reynolds (4/7).
Ben Reynolds.
RUNCORN Town were beaten 1-0 by top of the table Macclesfield in an entertaining game at the Viridor Community Stadium on Saturday.
There were two changes to the Town starting XI - Tony Davies and Gary Roberts coming in for Steve Davies and Tom Ruffer.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors on 10 minutes - a ball over the top from Lee Jackson almost fell to Tom Clare, but Adam Reid was out quickly to block the shot.
Two minutes later Liam Turner’s long throw was headed out to Sam Hughes and his shot from the edge of the box was well over.
Macclesfield were creating the better openings and midway through the first half almost took the lead. Mark Duffy found Sam Grimshaw in space and his shot from 25 yards was pushed away by Reid. Then Duffy received a throw and created a yard of space to shoot from just outside the box, but Reid was again happy to push the ball away to safety.
At the other end Bobbie McDonnell received a quick free kick from Gary Roberts and was able to beat a couple of defenders, but his shot from 20 yards was wide of the target.
Macclesfield went ahead on 28 minutes. Duffy played in James Berry down the left and his low cross into a crowded six-yard box was turned in from close range either by Tom Clare.
Town responded immediately. Frankie Antoine was picked out on the left by John Davies and he did really well to cut inside the full back and his shot was beaten away by Sam Ashton in the Macclesfield goal.
Town started the second half on the front foot. On 51 minutes Hughes had a decent effort from 30 yards wide of the target. Antoine then picked up a loose ball and found McDonnell, but the Town striker’s shot was held by Ashton.
The Macclesfield keeper then had an uncomfortable few seconds - first fumbling a cross from Antoine, then having gained control his throw out was intercepted by Roberts whose speculative shot from distance was a couple of yards wide.
The Silkmen responded and following a mazy run towards the edge of the box, Duffy shot well over the bar. Then Mendy found Freedman inside the area from a quickly taken free kick, but he prodded just wide from close range.
On 74 minutes Town had a great chance to equalise, breaking from a Macclesfield free kick and Frankie Antoine’s ball put Bobbie McDonnell through but his shot was well saved by Sam Ashton.
Town went close again when Foulkes cross almost dropped in at the far post with Roberts also lurking.
Town had one final chance in injury time when Turner’s long throw was flicked on by
Tony Davies and headed over the bar by Fallon.*