The Wids performance in the first half wasn’t the best, but they managed to rescue the situation with a much-improved effort in the second half to run in five tries and earn themselves a bonus point victory.

They were, however, outplayed throughout much of the first half by a determined Sefton outfit and trailed 21 – 11 at the break, before finally being able to turn things around in the final quarter of the match.
The opening stages were all a bit scrappy, although it was the home side who were able to open their account first after just eight minutes, when Myles Holmes waltzed his way over for a try which was converted by James Evans.

Widnes did manage a couple of midfield breaks, but these produced very little. That was until the quarter hour, when Jack Krause was able to exploit an overlap and cross the line for a try.
Three minutes later, Widnes should have scored again, but instead they managed to hand over possession to Alistair McKie who raced home from 75 metres for a converted score.

Successive penalty kicks in the 24th and 27th minutes – both from Josh Salter - reduced the deficit to just three points. But normal service was resumed on the half-hour mark, when Sefton added a third converted try which increased the home side’s advantage to ten points.

Fortunately, there was no further damage to the scoreboard after that, and Widnes went in trailing at half-time by 21pts – 11.
Whatever was said at the break seemed to pay early dividends for the visitors as Josh Salter’s long pass found wing-man Gavin Hatton who scored a try wide out.

Not long afterwards, and showing some new found enthusiasm, the Wids then cut loose from distance through Jamie Patient and Ryan Millington who handed on to Will Patient, enabling him to race home from 30 metres.

Josh Salter was able to add the conversion, and suddenly, the visitors had their noses in front for the first time in the match.

Their lead wouldn’t last long though, as a Wids yellow card was quickly followed by another Sefton try which regained the advantage for the home side.

With a quarter of the game left, Ryan Millington then had a try disallowed after a forward pass. But shortly afterwards, ‘Super Sub’ Aaron Duggan was on hand to make his presence felt by stretching out to score and square things up again at 28 – 28.

Minutes later, and with the Sefton challenge beginning to fall away, Duggan was again on hand to race in behind the posts for his second try which was also converted.

With time almost up, Salter then to put in a perfectly weighted chip kick in behind the advancing Sefton defence, giving Jack Krause plenty of time to pick up and touch down for a try.

Salter then added the final conversion to wrap up the bonus point victory before the final whistle sounded.

Head coach Andy McIntosh said afterwards “Today was a classic game of two halves. Although we had good energy and spirit, in the first half we lacked ball control and direction, making a lot of unforced handling errors. In the second half we re-took control and really took the game to Sefton building pressure through phases, playing in the right areas of the field and scoring some good tries.

I was very pleased with the outcome of today in a game where we were behind for long periods which showed the character of the team. We now face another big test away at Bolton next week”.

Widnes: J Krause, T Spencer, J Patient, R Millington, G Hatton, J Salter, C O’Donnell, M Blakey, P Makles, M Lawton, S Bryan, M Garrity, W Patient, M Jones, T O’Neill. Reps: A Duggan, M Dyas, J Paton.