Pacesetting Widnes in second-half blitz

Oct 2 2008 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Widnes 51 Sale FC 18

AFTER two wins on the road, it took early league leaders Widnes until the second half to find home comfort for their third South Lancs-Cheshire One success in as many games.

Half-time scores had been locked at 18-18 but whatever was said at half-time certainly worked.

Kevin Leadbetter – named MoM by Lancashire president Ken Andrews – had kicked an early penalty but Sale replied with an eighth-minute touchdown.

Widnes lost Michael Webb (broken wrist) but replacement Mark Whitfield quickly produced a try, also unconverted.

With the home pack dominant, captain Andy O’Neill dived over.

But Sale’s well-worked forwards try near the posts plus a couple of penalty goals put them in the driving seat.

Right on half-time, Andy McVey and Marc Wilcox fed the backs – enabling Andy Riley to crash over for the equalising score at the corner.

Widnes re-emerged fired up, Leadbetter adding the extras to his own try for 25-18.

Vickerstaffe, Preston and Scanlon set up the Riley brothers who combined to put in centre Gareth Davies with Leadbetter again improving.

When Wilcox, Shingler and Farrow drove the ball in, stand-off Andy McIntosh scored under the black dot, giving Leadbetter an easy goal.

Davies, McIntosh and Andy O’Neill put Wilcox over.

Andy O’Neill’s blind side break then saw him cleverly kick ahead, Kevin Leadbetter picking up to round off in style.

Trafford MV 2nd 15 Widnes 2nd 25

THE second string continued their excellent form in Miller Homes League.

After trying a little too hard early on and falling behind to a penalty, Widnes’ nerves were settled as Ciaran Clark got on the end of John Hetherington’s quick tap.

Trafford regained the lead through a penalty try on the half hour but an excellent touchdown for Martin O’Neill – after great work from Hetherington, again, and captain Tommy Ledson – restored parity.

The second half began well for Widnes. Justin Winstanley dummied through a tight defence to score from 40 metres.

Ten minutes later, the same player put John Parker in.

With Hetherington adding the conversion and a penalty, the visitors had breathing space at 10-25.

A Trafford try at the death couldn’t deny Widnes.

MoM Winstanley was closely followed by Hetherington and Ledson.

Tom Ashall put in a terrific stint at stand-off while back-rower Chris McLoughlin made a welcome return.

Tyldesley 3rd 41 Widnes 3rd 5

INJURY-HIT Wids were well-beaten by a strong all-round Tyldesley outfit.

Widnes’ improved second-half performance brought a try from Phil Catterall.