LAST GASP DESPAIR FOR WIDNES

A late penalty deep into added time was enough to send the Manchester side through to the final where they will play Didsbury Toc H at the end of the season.

It was a disappointing end for the Wids. After being out played in the first forty minutes, they mounted a terrific second half comeback to get their noses in front, only to see Sam Farrell’s late, late penalty kick edge the home side over the finishing line.

‘Winnies will perhaps have seen this as something of a revenge mission after their loss in the Papa Johns Northern Plate final back in May. For the Wids, though, this will have been a bitter pill to swallow, and they must now re-gather their thoughts ahead of this weekend’s difficult game away at Warrington.

The weather for the game was bright and sunny although it was freezing cold, but it was the Aldwinians first half performance that would have warmed the hearts of the home supporters.

Playing to their strengths, ‘Winnies opened their account after just ten minutes when number eight Ruben Holland scored from a lineout close to the Widnes line.

With the visitors living off just scraps of possession, the home side then had a try scratched off because of a forward pass.

It was 25 minutes before the Wids had their first real opportunity to attack, and Jack Krause’s exciting kick and chase caused some panic. Sadly, though, the move ended with Will Patient having to leave the field after he took a heavy knock as he regained possession, to be replaced by Jack Gilhooley.

From the resultant scrum, however, a fine free flowing move along the back line enabled fullback Andy Clarke to dummy his way over the line which levelled things up.

As half-time approached, ‘Winnies stand-off Sam Farrell converted a couple of penalties to regain and then extend their advantage, before Andy Clarke responded with a successful three pointer for the Wids to make the score 11 – 8 at the break.

Widnes took the opportunity to reshuffle their side ahead of the second half; but it was ‘Winnies who soon increased their advantage further as Holland crossed for his second try of the afternoon.

The visitors should then have scored down the left-hand flank with the line wide open, before a kick and chase involving Jack Krause could also have been more productive.

However, when ‘Winnies came up with an error from the subsequent goal line drop out, some smart work close to the line ended with captain Tom O’Neill crashing over the line for a try.

With Andy Clarke adding the conversion, the Wids were now just a point adrift.

Feeling the pressure now, the home side then had a player sent to the sin-bin, and the visitors took full advantage for Andy Clarke to convert a penalty to put them into the lead for the first time in the match.

A flurry of activity then occurred as Widnes lost a player into the sin-bin, before the referee then brandished a red card to dismiss an Aldwinians player from the field.

Almost immediately, Jack Krause then had a ‘try’ disallowed for a forward pass, before super work from the Wids back line saw Jamie Patient dive over in the corner for a try to further extend the visitors lead.

But back came ‘Winnies once again, and they responded with a third try with Farrell’s conversion attempt going wide of the target.
With just two points in it now, the Wids then suffered a second yellow card. The home side then had a drop goal attempt charged down as they sought out a winning score.

Finally, though, and deep into added time, the referee awarded the home side a penalty from almost straight in front, and stand-off Farrell held his nerve to convert the kick and give his side the victory.

The final whistle then sounded and the game was over.

Head coach Andy McIntosh said afterwards” Proud of the lads’ efforts today losing out at the death in a keenly fought contest.
It’s a difficult place to come and play open rugby and Aldwinians played to their strengths.

We stuck with the game plan and were firmly in the ascendency on 80 minutes, but sometimes it’s just not your day. Unfortunately, today we lost deep into time added on with the last kick of the game in controversial circumstances. It’s a tough one to take, but we have been on both sides of narrow success and defeat - that’s just rugby sometimes.

We move on, learn the lessons as always and focus on the league as we head into the Xmas period”.

Widnes: A Clarke, J Krause, J Patient, R Millington, T Spencer, K Leadbetter, D Rice, D Rourke, B Mercer, M Lawton, M Garrity, S Bryan, K Arndell, W Patient, T O’Neill (c). Reps: A Haydock, J Gilhooley, A Duggan, J Salter, L Lawton