Widnes Edge It!!

It was an important victory for the ‘red-and-blacks’ who now move above Park with a game in hand over one of their closest rivals.

The weather for the game was grey and overcast throughout, but conditions for rugby were good with the potential for plenty of free flowing football thrown into the mix.

Park got the game underway but were soon back in possession forcing the home side to concede a penalty which Jack Holland pulled narrowly wide of the target.

Then, it was the home side’s turn to make their way downfield, to also earn a penalty which Andy Owens converted to give his team an early lead.
Not content with that, Park then took advantage of some sloppy Wids defending which allowed scrum half Daniel Green to wriggle his way through and over the line for a try. The conversion from Holland made it 3 – 7.

At this point, the visitors were looking much the livelier helped along by an ample supply of possession. They were also being helped by a home side that seemed to want to kick away any ball they had.

But then, a long range Tom O’Neill break down the centre of the field seemed to act as a catalyst for change, and after going through the phases, big Arnie Haydock took full advantage to unleash both power and strength to crash over for a try.

Andy Owens excellent conversion from wide out meant the Wids now held a 10 – 7 advantage.

Shortly afterwards, the Wids struck again when the forwards laid a platform which allowed the backs to stretch the Park defence out wide and get Josh Salter over in at the corner for another five pointer.

Another towering conversion from Andy Owens made the score 17 – 7.

A sequence of penalties in the lead up to half time saw Park lay siege to the Wids line, but their only reward was a successful three pointer from Holland, which meant there was only a converted try in it at the break.

Kevin Leadbetter got the second period got underway and a Park error quickly handed possession back to the home team who were able to make it count as Aaron Duggan scored a try converted by Owens to restore their earlier advantage.

Park immediately responded through livewire scrum half Ryan Littler who helped create a converted try for Josh Ainsworth and make it a seven point ball game once more.

Widnes then had a close escape as Adam Woosey knocked on as he failed to hang to an attempted interception.

Instead of potentially being back on level terms, Park then suffered a huge blow as Tom O’Neill burst over from close range for a try with Andy Owens touchline conversion merely adding insult to injury.

Not to be outdone though, back came Park once again, and another converted try between the uprights made it game on once more.

With less than fifteen minutes left, it was beginning to look a bit like who might blink first, and fortunately for the home side that seemed to be Park as Andy Owens raced down the far touchline to score a try in the corner.

But, still, the visitors weren’t finished, and when a Widnes player was sent to the sin-bin, Park were able to make them pay with their fourth try from stand-off Lee Rosney which he also converted to reduce the deficit to just five points.

Would there be enough time left for them to grab that final match winning score?

Fortunately, for the home side at least, the answer was “No” as a delighted Kevin Leadbetter booted the ball out on the full to bring to an end to what had been an absorbing contest.

Mike Jones was selected as the man of the match but he was pushed all the way by several of his team mates including second row forward Sam Bryan.

The result now sets up another mouth watering contest when the two teams meet again at the same venue in the League Cup on 19th October.

Afterwards, a delighted Head coach Andy McIntosh said “It is always a great game when we play West Park and today was no different. We had a few changes again in the team but the lads stood up to the test. We certainly weren’t at our best today but we managed to get the win and move on to the next test”.