WIDNES travelled to Didsbury on Saturday last and had the better of a drawn game with the side immediately below them in the table.

Invited to bat on an excellent wicket, James McCoy started in his usual ebullient fashion taking 18 off the first over but was dismissed seven balls later lbw.

Adam Landry joined Tony Hurdley to take Widnes onto 103 for two until Hurdley departed for 37.

Steve Titchard and Landry then shared a century partnership and both touched their best form of the summer with Landry eventually being caught eight short of his century.

When Widnes declared after 55 overs, Titchard remained 77 not out.

Without Gareth Dyson to spearhead the attack and the potent threat of Ian Spencer behind the wickets, bowling Didsbury out was always going to be a difficult task.

However, when Sean Moore dismissed Abbas, caught behind by Richard Evans early on, Widnes knew they were in with a chance. A wicket a piece to Titchard and Ibra Ali saw Didsbury slump to 97 for three but valiantly as Bappa Mukherjee was to bowl 24 overs, four for 40, they stubbornly defended to the end.

Mark Slater, who retired injured, returned to remain 50 not out and Basha Ullah remained 43 not out as Didsbury held on for a draw at 220 for seven.

Widnes took 16 points from the game and are now third in the Cheshire County premier league behind Oulton Park and Bowden.

This Saturday they entertain Chester Broughton Hall, wickets pitched at 1pm.

Widnes second XI continued their good start to the season with an excellent home win against Chester Broughton Hall.Chester scored 233 for three on a newly laid Beaconsfield Road wicket, Ruan Pretorius the most successful Widnes bowler with two for 41.

At 126 for five with Anthony Nickson out for 37, things were not looking too rosy for Widnes but an excellent sixth wicket partnership of 108 between Peter Findlater, 60 not out and Ruan Pretorius, 56 not out, saw the home side to victory.

This Saturday the seconds are away in the league to Winnington Park and on Sunday they travel to Alderley Edge in the Taylor Insurance cup.