Widnes RUFC 1st XV

Wilmslow RUFC 1st XV 24

THE Wids slumped to their third consecutive defeat and out of the Powergen Intermediate cup against highflying Wilmslow.

The visitors are unbeaten and top of the league, which the Wids were promoted from last season.

Widnes welcomed back Nick Fellows to the pack, which also included George Young at prop and in the backs Dave Welsh and Andy O'Neill were selected.

The home side could not have had a better start when Tommy Ledson raced over to score after two minutes, the result of slight of hands in the centres by Alex Gardiner and Ashley Watmore.

Wilmslow dominated the rest of the half as Widnes suffered a string of injuries that saw Ledson, O'Neill and Tony Field leave the field by half time.

By this time Wilmslow had taken the lead through two penalties, a conversion by Bob MacCallum and a try by James Keep. Phil Glover kept Widnes in touch with a penalty.

In the second half the Wids continued to struggle to win ball and what ball they did win was always slow or the wrong option taken.

The lineout was the only successful phases of the Widnes forward game were Adam Loughnane again showed his talent.

It was from lineouts that the Wids nearly pinched this game.

On 54 minutes Michael Lamb was pushed over the try line from five metres.

On 80 minutes Paul Borg was forced over from the exact same spot.

Glover hit the post with his conversion attempt, which would have given the Wids a one-point lead.

But during the second period Wilmslow had kept their noses ahead with two MacCallum penalties and deep into injury time Keep scored his second try.

Widnes return to league action this week when they travel to Blackburn.