This was an important win for the Wids, who were keen to get straight back on the horse again after the disappointment at Southport seven days previous.

They grabbed five tries in the process, led by captain Tom O’Neill who scored twice, alongside further scores from Ben Mercer, Jack Krause and Will Patient.

The victory also helped keep up the pressure on third placed Tarleton - who lost narrowly at Didsbury - as well as opening up an important ten-point gap between themselves and the men from Red Rocks who had previously been unbeaten since early December.

The weather for the game was ideal for rugby, with a firm, dry pitch matched by some weak winter sunshine and a stiff chilly breeze.

As expected, the game was tough and uncompromising during the first half with some strong defence on show from both sides.

Park went close first with a long-range break fashioned by stand-off Liam Hill, whilst breaks from Ben Mercer and Jack Krause could perhaps have produce more for the home side.

The half remained scoreless during the opening 25 minutes, before Park had an opportunity to open their account. However, the penalty attempt was well wide of the target.

A super touch finder from Kevin Leadbetter then got the Wids close, and shortly afterwards a text book line out move on the opposite flank, saw hooker Ben Mercer dive over for a try. Full back Josh Salter then booted a superb touchline conversion to make it 7 – nil.

Park weren’t out of it yet though, and they soon responded in kind as their forwards got to work close to the Wids line before crashing over for a try right on the stroke of half-time to leave things evenly poised at the break.

The visitors continued to have the better of the early stages in that second half, and in the 46th minute were able to get their noses in front when fullback Ben Houlton kicked a penalty to give them a narrow one-point advantage.

A mistake from the restart immediately invited Widnes back onto the attack, and following a big effort from the forwards, Tom O’Neill was able to pick up from the base of the scrum and almost stroll in for a try through a big hole in the Park defence.

Again, Salter was on target from way out to increase his teams’ advantage to six points.

Just ten minutes later, Widnes scored again when wing man Jack Krause got onto the end of a flowing backs move, with player of the match Salter once again on target with yet another pin-point conversion.

Park then had a man despatched into the sin-bin, and the home side were able to make them pay with another try through Will Patient, although it did look as if the final pass was forward.

With the clock ticking down, Jamie Patient then put a foot in touch on his way to the line, before Captain Fantastic Tom O’Neill rounded off a good day for both him and the club with his second try.

Late on in the piece, Widnes had a man sent to the sin-bin, before Park made a long-range break which ended with Tom Carsley scoring a late consolation effort for the visitors.

Head coach Andy McIntosh said afterwards “An excellent performance today from the lads. We controlled the ball well on the back of a game that was built on a strong defensive effort. I thought we won the ruck, got plenty of go forward, which in turn created lots of pressure and chances.

We turned round close at half time, but a very well managed second half downwind gave us plenty of ball deep into opposition territory, and it was pleasing to keep Park out of our half for long periods of the game.

We go again next week against Sefton, a game that always brings out the best in our opposition so we must be switched on and ready to back up this week’s performance”.

Widnes: J Salter, J Krause, J Patient, R Millington, G Hatton, K Leadbetter, C O’Donnell, A Haydock, B Mercer, J Winstanley, M Garrity, K Arndell, M Jones, W Patient, T O’Neill (c). Reps: M Lawton, T Spencer, J Butler.