The game was being played in memory of West Park’s Colin Bailey with the two teams competing for the John Ratcliffe and Antony Morris Memorial Trophy.

In a fixture that was nip and tuck throughout, it took a late try from Jack Krause and conversion from Josh Salter to finally get the victors over the finishing line to claim their first piece of silverware of the new season.

The main attraction formed part of an exciting ‘Fun Day’ at Red Rocks, which included an Under 8’s curtain raiser between West Park and Widnes, and live music provided by X Factor contestant Keira Weathers.

The weather for the match – and the overall event itself – also played its part, with warm and sunny conditions on show throughout.

The Wids again had plenty of youth on show within their squad, and the performances of all of the younger players, in particular, will have given the coaches a real selection headache for the forthcoming cup game against Eccles on 31st August.

Once again, the game was played over four quarters, and it was an enterprising start from both teams in both attack and defence.

Widnes did have a chance early doors when Mike Jones made a long-range break, but it was Park who finally grabbed the initiative when Oli Berry peeled off from a maul down the blind side to score the game’s opening try.

Making several changes in quarter two, the visitors then got their noses in front as Lee Holland found captain Tom O’Neill in support who crossed for a try which was then converted by Josh Salter.

The visitors then scored a second try as Lee Holland crossed to increase their advantage before Park squared things up with a converted try to make it 12 – 12.

In the third quarter, Ed Price showed both pace and power as he broke through from distance before dummying his way past the fullback and over the line for a great individual try which was goaled by Josh Salter.

Not to be outdone, Park capitalised on another Wids error to score a try which made it 17 – 19.

Shortly afterwards, a break from Jack Krause was continued on by one of the Wids un-sung heroes, Josh Cosgrove, who calmly kept the ball alive with his pass that ended with Ed Price storming over the line for his second try of the afternoon.

Once again, though, Park refused to lay down, and another converted try meant that the Wids held just a narrow two-point advantage going into the final quarter.

The drama of the previous twenty minutes then continued as both teams battled to get themselves over the line to claim victory.

Firstly, a Park player was sent to the sin-bin after a deliberate knock down, and that was followed by a brief bout of fisticuffs in midfield.

With just minutes remaining, the home side then converted a penalty to edge themselves into the lead by just a point at 27 – 26.

Widnes, though, were not finished yet, and in a determined final flourish, some smart, quick hands across the field of play, ended with Jack Krause cutting in for a try close enough for Josh Salter to add the extras and seal victory for the ‘red-and-blacks’.

This was a thoroughly entertaining game throughout, and whilst the Wids emerged victorious, they could not have complained had the final result gone the other way.

The senior XV now have two weeks off because of the Bank Holiday, before they face their first real challenge of the new season when they take on old rivals Eccles at Gorton Road in the first round of the Lancashire Cup.