WAY OUT WEST FOR WIDNES AT PARK

In testing conditions, they were forced to dig deep against an in-form Red Rocks outfit who have really turned the corner after a mixed start to the campaign.

Indeed, on another day, the Wids might easily have folded in the face of such determined opposition, but once again, they were able to find the strength of character to get themselves up off the canvas and get over the finishing line to claim a vital win.

They scored three tries in all through; Mike Jones, Keiron Arndell and ‘super sub’ Arnie Haydock, who barged over for the winner with just two minutes left.

So, with league leaders Eccles getting the better of Broughton Park; it means that the Title challenge continues for another week.

The weather for the game was hardly Spring like. It was grey and overcast, with a strong, cold wind blowing straight down the heavy pitch with a continued threat of rain always in the air.

With the elements in their favour, Park were quickly out of the blocks right from the off and had much the better of the early possession and field position, although the Widnes defence looking like it was again up to the task.

The home side got their noses in front after five minutes, when full-back Ben Houlton kicked a penalty.

The ‘red-and-blacks’ continued though to do it the hard way, and that task became a little bit tougher when they then a lost a player into the sin-bin after eight minutes. Fortunately, for them, Houlton was off target with the subsequent penalty attempt.

After Park had spurned a chance to score a try, Widnes then made a rare visit into the Park half of the field with a break from Liam Lawton.

Park then had a man despatched in to the sin-bin, but that failed to stop their forward momentum as Oliver Berry reacted first to touch down for a try.

At 8 – nil down, that try quickly spurred Widnes into action, as Mike Jones exploited a huge gap in the Park defensive line to stroll in and score a try which was then converted by Kevin Leadbetter.

With just a one-point advantage, the home then had a further chance to put points on the board, but once again the penalty shot was wide of the mark.

Ultimately, that proved to be the last real action of the half, and Park went in at the break leading by the narrowest of margins at 8pts – 7.

For the second half, the Wids would now have the elements and the slope in their favour, but the script didn’t start as planned, as another unforced error led to a second Park try from Will Johnson which increased their advantage to six points.

A timely ankle tap then denied elusive Wids winger Jack Krause, but on 53 minutes things got better for the visitors as the outstanding Keiron Arndell crossed for a vital try.

Stand-off Kevin Leadbetter then held his nerve to convert the difficult conversion attempt and give his side the lead for the first time in the match.

On the hour mark, Park then missed with another penalty, but four minutes later, Houlton made amends by converting another three pointer to regain the lead for his side.

In a frantic last ten minutes, Park had two players despatched into the sin-bin, whilst in-between, Widnes Captain Tom O’Neill was deemed to have been held up over the line as he reached out to score.

As the clock continued to count down, Widnes sensed their just might be an opportunity, however the Park defence continued to have other ideas as they repelled everything that the Wids attack could throw at them.

That was, until the 77th minute, when big Arnie Haydock spotted a gap to peel off from a maul close to the line and crash over to score a vital try for the visitors.

That meant that the ‘red-and-blacks’ now had their noses in front once again, but a knock on from the restart meant they were under immediate pressure once again.

Park, though, were now desperate and chasing the game; and in one final flourish to get themselves over the whitewash, they coughed up a couple of penalties which allowed the Wids to finally clear the danger and claim a vital victory.

Head coach Andy McIntosh said afterwards “It is always a difficult game against West Park. Today was as we expected with another tough 80-minute contest.

The pitch was heavy, and it was a real battle upfront. But the lads held strong, and we managed to control the game in the last 15 minutes after defending for long periods, doing enough to secure a great win.

We need to keep turning up for each other with that desire and playing for the team.

That puts us in a strong position as we enter the last few weeks of the season, and a real push is now needed as we host Warrington who will be looking to come back at us next week”.

Widnes: J Krause, J Paton, J Patient, L Lawton, G Hatton, K Leadbetter, J Salter, D Rourke, P Makles, M Lawton, M Garrity, K Arndell, M Jones, W Patient, T O'Neill (c). Reps: A Haydock, J Gilhooley, A Duggan.