They were downed by the South Manchester side who are in a rich vein of form, and likely to be one of the teams pushing leaders Sandbach all the way for that elusive top spot.

For the Wids; they are currently in the middle of a tough sequence of fixtures that has seen them pitched against each of the top teams in the division, each of whom are all battling for that promotion place at the end of the season.

So, for now, they must consider it as part of the learning process as they look to establish themselves as a genuine level six outfit following a decade outside of the higher echelons. Current spells like this were always going to happen, and the real test will come when they face the teams located around them in the lower half of the table.

The good news was, though, that despite the margin of the defeat, they did score thirty-six points which included scoring five tries to earn themselves a valuable bonus point, something which could become so important in the final analysis come April time.

The weather for the game was dry and bright, although there was a stiff, chilly breeze blowing down the pitch.

As they had done the previous week, Widnes began brightly enough, but a couple of early errors saw the home side take full advantage, to score two converted tries inside the opening eight minutes.

Three minutes later, Widnes were able to respond, and a decent run from Sam Fitzsimon, was finished off in style by Rio Hamlett, whose powerful run took him over the line for a try.

Josh Salter then booted over the difficult conversion to make the score 14 – 7.

After that, things became a little scrappy, and it was a further eleven minutes before the home side added a third converted try before Josh Salter pulled things back with a penalty.

With ten minutes to go, the home side hit the WIds with a double whammy to ease themselves further out on the scoreboard, before the visitors put it together long enough to get Sam Fitzsimon over for a try, converted by Salter to make the score 35 – 17 at half time.

Widnes brought on Sam Bryan at half time, but they were powerless to prevent Bowdon from adding an early super team try covering distance to ease themselves out even further on the scoreboard.

At the same time, Widnes then lost stand-off Josh Salter who left the field with an ankle injury to be replaced by Lewie McIntosh.

After 48 minutes, a speculative kick downfield was taken on the full by Lewis George, and the wing man was able to get on the outside of his opposite number, before racing fifty metres up the touchline for a great individual effort.

Two further Bowdon tries saw them pass the fifty-point mark, before frustrations boiled over and a bout of fisticuffs ended with a player from each side in the sin-bin. The home side were then awarded a penalty try, whilst another Wids player was invited to warm his heels on the sideline for a further ten minutes.

With the game long gone, all that was left now was for Widnes to secure that all important four try bonus point, which, fortunately, came in the 71st minute, when Arnie Haydock showed both pace and power to race over for a try from twenty metres.

Lewie McIntosh then booted over the awkward conversion attempt from wide out.

Bowdon then added another score, before some quick thinking saw Mike Garrity crash over from a quickly taken tap penalty, with McIntosh again adding the extras.

Bowdon did have the last word, as powerful wing forward Clive Van Rensburgh burst through some tiring Widnes defence, with scrum-half Longworth adding the extras which finally brought an end to proceedings.

Head coach Andy McIntosh said afterwards "Another tough game against a really strong established Bowdon team.

After a solid start we were then immediately punished following a number of mistakes and the score quickly ran away from us. Credit to Bowdon who took those opportunities and converted them on the next phase of play.

The lads showed some real grit and determination, and we ran in some great tries to secure a well-deserved bonus point, which became the target as the game progressed.

There were plenty of positives for us today particularly in the set piece where we held our own. We continued to have a go throughout in the face of some decisions against us - even when we found ourselves down to thirteen men for an extended period.

There was more game time in the bag for some of the younger lads coming into first team rugby and some returning players who are now back in the mix and really pushing for selection. Overall whilst a heavy score line, this was a vital bonus point in what continues to be a competitive league”.

Widnes: A Jones, S Fitzsimon, T Spencer, L Lawton, L George, J Salter, G Hatton, D Rourke, P Makles, M Lawton, M Garrity, R Hamlett, C Feeley, W Patient, M Jones (c). Reps: A Haydock, S Bryan, Lewie McIntosh.