JOB DONE

The visitors were never at their best, but this one was all about the win – however it was achieved – and, by the end they were just glad to say it was ‘mission accomplished’.

Tyldesley, on the other hand, proved to be gutsy and determined opponents, and were well in the game before falling away later in the piece following the loss of influential stand-off Mark Dickinson. Nevertheless, on this showing, it was difficult to see how they have remained winless so far this season.

The weather for the game was damp and overcast with a stiff breeze blowing down the pitch as kick off time approached.

Going into the game as favourites, Widnes did not perhaps do themselves any real favours by hitting the front after just five minutes when Lewis Bates crossed for a try after some smart work from Captain Kevin Leadbetter. With Andy Owens adding the extras, the visitors were in front 0 – 7.

Whether that early lead triggered a little bit of sub-conscious complacency after such a long unbeaten run cannot be certain. But, after the try, they tended to mis-fire throughout most of the remainder of the half.

Indeed, after 20 minutes, the home side were back in it, as their big pack got to work close to the line for Jack Weaver to crash over for a try wide out.

At 5 – 7 it was game on again, and the Bongs continued to front up to the red-and-blacks who themselves were making lots of self-inflicted errors and conceding far too many penalties.

After 27 minutes, Kieron Arndell came onto the field and immediately made a decent half break before the move fizzled out. This was followed by a midfield fracas involving players of both teams which earned both captains a telling off from the referee.

With the half ticking down to its natural conclusion, a fine touch finder from Kevin Leadbetter got Widnes to within earshot, and their persistence eventually paid dividends as quick hands on the far side saw Andy Owens race in behind the posts for a try which he then goaled himself.

That proved to be the final action of the half, and the visitors went in at the break leading by 5pts – 14.

As the players returned for the start of the second half, the rain arrived right on cue meaning that the remainder of the contest would be played out in very wet, cold and miserable conditions.

Any notion that Widnes may have had that their try at the end of the first period would trigger a Tyldesley collapse, was quickly dismissed as Mark Dickinson caught the red-and-blacks napping as he took a quick tap before plunging over for a try which was then converted in style from touch by Martin Paul.

At 12 – 14, the game was now really back in the melting pot with everything still to play for.

A flurry of activity saw the introduction of Mike Garrity for Widnes in order to freshen up the visitors approach. Tyldesley lost the influential Dickinson to injury, before another midfield melee saw the referee lose patience, opting to send both captains to the sin-bin for ten minutes as punishment for their players not heeding the earlier warnings.

Finally, when the players did get rugby back on their minds, the red-and-blacks were finally able to nudge themselves a little further ahead on the hour mark as Mike Garrity scored a try underneath the posts which offered Andy Owens an easy conversion opportunity.

At 12 – 21, the visitors were able to breath just that little bit easier, and when Kieron Arndell crossed for their fourth try just five minutes later – which secured that all important bonus point – it was now beginning to look like finally, that it was job done.

With the pressure now off, the Wids began to look something like their old selves although there were no further additions to the scoreboard as the game finally reached its conclusion.

Head coach Andy McIntosh said afterwards““lt is always a tough fixture here and today was no different. They play a very physical game and we prepared the lads for just that. They had a plan to push us all the way, but we responded and managed to get the job done”.

He added “It was a good experience for our young team to grind out a win. We made a few changes and had a strong bench that came on and got us over the line. The win keeps the pressure on at the top of the table and we look ahead to our next game”.