Vale of Lune undone by Widnes

MATCH REPORT: Vale of Lune 22 - 25 Widnes

The winter sun made a brief guest appearance at Powder House Lane. Its fans, and the damp pitch, appreciated the gesture.

Vale Head Coach Mark Goodman had to make changes from the side which had won three in a row. Whilst it was encouraging to see Archie Fowler return from injury, six of the usual participants remained unavailable. The silver lining being that debuts can be made, and this one saw the initial first team home game for promising forward, J.J. McKinnon.

From the onset, Sam Wallbank led the battering of the Widnes defences, finishing the move with a try to the left of the posts. Widnes got within the range of their place kicker's abilities when the Vale conceded a penalty for a player being offside. The lead was narrowed but the Vale try line went unthreatened.

Hall made a crucial incursion, finished by the speedy full back, Ryan Busby, in the right corner. Widnes answered with another three points from a penalty kick. Vale claimed the lion's share of possession, applied with due urgency by their half-back pairing of Billy Swarbrick and Kurt Gledhill.

A series of bullet passes across the field from right to left gave winger Dan Leighton a chance. He snatched the ball at full pelt, side-stepped the defender and lurched over for a try.

Widnes replied with what was possibly their first serious thrust for the line. Some composed forward play got them over as the Vale realised they had a game on their hands.

From the spine of the pitch, Damon Hall chipped a lofty ball toward the right corner. It was finished with panache by Gledhill. Widnes soon replicated their earlier try, bringing the half time score to 22 - 20.

Clouds gathered and the ambient light diminished. Personnel changes ensued, with Oyston, Briggs and McKinnon coming on in instalments.

A period of hard slog brought no gain for either side. Scorekeeper Big Les had no work to do. It was Widnes who regained the initiative with a passing move to their left winger who touched down in the corner. It was to be the only score of the second half.

In the last ten minutes, and following some animated protest at the award of several contentious penalties, dissent and rancour developed among both teams. It spilled over in a flashpoint of high spirits and play was halted until normal service could be resumed, albeit without Jack McFarlane who was dispatched to the bin. A final artillery burst in to the Widnes half gave Vale hope of redemption, but the move fell away and the visitors celebrated a win against the odds.

The allocation of league points was four for Widnes for the win, and two bonus points for the Vale for scoring four tries and finishing within seven of the winners. Vale remain in third place in NW2, as they prepare for the final outing of 2025 away at West Park St. Helens next Saturday. Kick off of 2.15pm.

Team: A. Fowler, H. Dokter, J. Crompton, H. Fellows (c), S. Wallbank, E. Abdelghafar, S. Walton, B. Swarbrick, K. Gledhill, J. McFarlane, A. Bolton, D. Hall, D. Leighton, R. Busby. Reps: G. Oyston, A. Briggs, J.J. McKinnon.

Here are some action photos from the fixture. Images by Tony North.

Vale's Joe Crompton driving forward

Harry Fellows battles forward

Harm Dokter takes on Widnes

Jack McFarlane cuts left

Kurt Gledhill sprints to score

Vale's Ryan Busby in action

Archie Fowler going forward