Widnes U13's were on the road again for their last fixture of the season against Rossendale and their old rivals, Leigh.

 The first game against Rossendale saw Jordan Tisdale cross the line for the first try of the game. A further two tries by Sam McGrory and Jake Coulter, with only one conversion by Joe Clarke saw Widnes leading at half time 17pts to nil. Widnes showed their superiority in the second half and with further tries by Jordan Tisdale, Remy Julienne and Rob Fonterigo with conversions by Ben Mercer and Joe Clark gave them a well deserved victory at 36pts to nil. 

The second game against Leigh was always going to be harder but some fine handling skills by the forwards gave Jonny Ashall, who earlier in the season had a career threatening injury, the opportunity to score his first try for the club in the corner. An excellent conversion from the difficult angle by Joe Clark extended the slender lead for Widnes. Leigh restarted with a lot of pressure but great defensive work by Widnes kept them out and with good ball handling and neat passing, Mike Jones scored the second try to put Widnes 12 - 0 in the lead at half time.  

In the second half, Leigh again tried to force their way over the Widnes line but were kept at bay by good team work from the Widnes defence. Fine running with the ball from the ruck gave Jordan Tisdale the chance to score his third try of the afternoon and with strong running, crossed the line by the posts. An easy conversion for Joe Clarke gave Widnes the points to seal the game 19pts to nil. 

With the boys losing their coaches Jason Critchley and Dave Clarke, the two victories were a fine way of saying thank you to them for all their hard work during the last two seasons.  

Under 13s Tour of Scotland

Widnes U13's recently went on their annual tour to the north of the border to Edinburgh where they were entertained by two strong rugby teams, as well as the locals! 

The first game to be played was against Haddington, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, on a pitch that was more like a bowling green. From the start Widnes were on the back foot as the opposition started very strongly and forced a try underneath the posts.  

Poor defending saw the hosts score two more tries in quick succession leaving Widnes shell-shocked at half time, trailing 17 - 0.  

The second half started very much like the first, with Widnes again being sloppy in defence and conceding a soft try beneath the posts.  

Realising English pride was stake, Widnes began to play with a bit more flair and pushed Haddington back to their try line, with Jordan Tisdale forcing a fine try beneath the uprights.  

From the restart, Widnes began to play with a bit more confidence but silly handling errors by the forwards let Haddington cross the line for two more tries before winger Matty Thomas scored an excellent try in the corner after combining with Scot Critchley and Ben Mercer.  

Haddington finished the game by scoring a late try after a mix up in defence. Despite some excellent conversions by Ben Mercer, Widnes lost the game by 36pts to 14. 

The following day, the boys were guests at Murrayfield and were given an excellent tour of the stadium. Apart from actually playing on the pitch, which was under water! the boys were shown every nook and cranny of the famous stadium.  

Later in the day, after a bumpy ride into Fife, Widnes were the guests at Kirkaldy where they played under floodlights.  

The game started with Kirkaldy working well in the scrum, passing neatly along the line to the winger who galloped over the line for the opening try near to the corner. 

Widnes rallied from the restart, grew in confidence and with some neat passing, Rob Fonterigo showed a clean pair of heels to the Kirkaldy back line and scored a neat try into the corner to level the score.  

Sloppy defence work from the restart by Kirkaldy allowed Charles Lang to pinch the ball and run 50yds to score under the posts. With Ben Mercer taking the conversion, Widnes led at the break 12pts to 10.  

The second half started with some excellent pressure from Kirkaldy but equally excellent defence work by Widnes kept them out. Despite playing their second game in two days, they managed to keep their opponents out, and with some cheeky passing, gave the ball to Rob Fonterigo who again showed his speed to score the final try of the match.

With the conversion being missed, Widnes ran out victorious 17pts to 5.  

This was a very successful tour for the U13's. The two host teams were very hospitable and the boys were excellent ambassadors for the club. 

West Park U13s   27   Widnes U13s  15

Widnes U13's were guests to their close rivals West Park U13's in the quarter final of the Lancashire Cup on a nice and blustery Mothering Sunday. 

The game started with both teams looking for glory but it was West Park that made the first break by some good running from the winger, running past several Widnes players to score near to the posts.  

Widnes applied pressure from the kick-off but West Park were the stronger team and forced their was over for the second try of the game. With only one try converted, West Park went in leading 12 - 0 at half time. 

Coach Jason Critchley made some changes for the second half and they paid off with debutant David Fletcher scoring with almost his first touch. West Park replied with some excellent team work end with Widnes defence struggling, they touched down near to the corner flag. 

Widnes rallied and pushed West Park back onto their own try line for debutant David Fletcher to score his second of the day. 

Sloppy defensive work by Widnes allowed West Park to win a penalty on the 10metre mark which was converted by their fly-half at the second attempt. 

With time running out for the Widnes team, West Park added further woe and crossed the line beneath the posts for an easy kick to convert. 

As the game entered the final seconds, Widnes forced three successive penalties that pushed West Park back onto their try line. With a superbly delayed pass, fly half Joe Clark passed the ball to hooker Ben Mercer to cross the line. 

With the wind playing a large part, converting the ball was made difficult and West Park progressed to the semi finals. 

Widnes U13s   42   Sedgeley Park U13s  12

A week after reaching the quarter finals in the Lancashire cup, Widnes under 13's entertained Sedgeley Park at home. 

With nine players missing, Widnes showed their intention and were camped in the opposition's half from the start and were rewarded within minutes by a fine try by prop Johnny Gray. 

Sedgeley re-started brightly and exerted good pressure only to be thwarted by excellent defence work by Widnes who pushed forward with a superb ball from the scrum to fly half Joe Clark who sent an excellent kick to the winger Lee Follon to score in the corner. Widnes' third try of the half came from some excellent footwork by Joe Clarke who threw the Sedgeley defence with a cheeky dummy before passing onto flanker Sam McGrory who powered his way over the line for his first try for the club. With no conversions, Widnes led 15 - 0 at half time. 

The second half started with Sedgeley Park forcing Widnes back towards their try line and they were rewarded with a try just inside the corner flag. Widnes replied almost instantly from the start with scrum half Dan Coakley going under the posts. With Sedgeley Park appearing to tire, Widnes took full advantage and were rewarded with two tries in quick succession, one by winger Rob Fonterigo, the other by number eight Jake Coulter, both again beneath the posts.

Sedgeley Park rallied and with some good scrum work forced their way over the Widnes try line for their second try of the afternoon. Widnes, not to be outdone, replied with some good handling skills passing the ball to winger Rob Fonterigo who ran past five Sedgeley players for his second try. Joe Clark converted all the second half tries and Widnes ran out worthy winners 42 -12. 

Widnes U13’s  v Vale of Lune U13’s

Widnes U13’s secured their place in the final stages of the Lancashire Cup after an emphatic home win against a Vale of Lune side brimming with confidence after their home win against the Wids earlier in the year. 

Two first half tries from Remy Julienne and Jake Coulter secured Widnes a 10-0 lead, expectations were high as the Vale of Lune never looking like scoring in the first half with the Wids defence on top form, which was demonstrated by  Critchley’s amazing effort inside his own 22. 

Both sides battled it out in the second half but it was the Wids who made the break through when Jordan Tisdale made a superb pick and drive from the base of the scrum to score in the corner. 

Vale of Lune got a consolation try for their efforts but nothing could be taken away from a great team performance in particular the back row of Lang, Tisadale and Critchley, and with Clarke at fly half tormenting the Vale of Lune back three with his kicking game, the prospects for the next round look good.

WIDNES U13s 17   COLLEGIATE U13s 10

On a good kite flying morning, and on a heavy pitch, Widnes U13's entertained Collegiate U13's and with no quarter asked, or given, the game went from end to end as these two rival teams competed at the highest level for victory. 

The deadlock was broken by some inventive play by the Widnes pack which allowed winger Rob Fonterigo to make a dashing run along the wing to score with Joe Clark converting.

Collegiate applied pressure immediately after the restart and with some excellent mauling, crossed the line for a try. With the conversion missed, Collegiate applied more pressure and a superb tackle by Widnes' number 8, Jordan Tisdale ensured that the home team went into half time with a narrow lead 7pts - 5. 

The second half started frenetically with both sides eager to gain the upper hand and some hard tackling from Widnes allowed Jordan Tisdale to make one of his powerful runs, crossing the line near to the corner flag. The conversion was narrowly missed and from the restart Collegiate bounced back with some fierce tackling to score a fine try. 

The wind certainly played its part as the conversion was again missed and the game entered the dying minutes with Widnes attacking Collegiate's line. Collegiate conceded a penalty and from the tap by scrum half Dan Coakley, the ball was passed to hooker Ben Mercer who dodged past several Collegiate players to pass the ball to substitute winger Lee Fallon to score his first try for the club.

Blackburn U13s   0   Widnes U13s    21

Without having a game for the past seven weeks, Widnes Under 13's travelled to Blackburn eager to start the New Year with a bang. 

On a heavy pitch Widnes started well and within five minutes were in the lead after a Remy Julienne try which was easily converted by Joe Clark. Scot Critchley caught the ball from the re-start and made a thirty yard run into the oppositions' half before a brave tackle brought him down. The Widnes pack pushed well in the ruck and the ball was passed with flair and confidence to Dan Coakley who crossed the line for his first try for the club, which was converted by Ben Mercer. Strong play by Widnes forced many handling errors from Blackburn and Ben Mercer scored a try from a well rehearsed line-out just before half-time, converted by Joe Clark. 

The second half started with several changes to the Widnes team and Blackburn took advantage of this and applied a lot of pressure in a bid to cross the line but good defensive work, if sometimes desperate, by Widnes kept them out.

The long break and lack of match practice began to take its toll on Widnes as they were pinned back in their own half but again handling errors from Blackburn ensured that they went home worthy winners. Congratulations go to Sam McGrory, who played his first game for the club after 'crossing over' and was unlucky on several occasions not to score on his debut.

 v

Widnes U13s  30   Fleetwood U13s  0

In glorious conditions, Widnes took on Fleetwood in the second round of the Lancashire RFU Junior Challenge Cup.  

From the start Widnes showed their intentions by scoring a quick try along the wing by Fonterigo. From the kick-off, a mistake by the Fleetwood forwards let Widnes in again, and Fonterigo placed the ball over the line for a second time. Weak scrummage work from Fleetwod let Widnes command the game and tries from Julienne(2) and Lang with conversions by Clark Mercer left the home team leading 31 - 0 at half time.  

The second half started with Fleetwood attacking the Widnes defence and very nearly scored had it not been for great defensive work by the home team. Again Fleetwood were put on the back foot and a try by Jones followed by a spectacular run from Mercer to score in the corner, finished by a try for Fonterigo's hat trick left Widnes the outright winners by 46 - 0 

WIDNES U13s 46  LEIGH U13s  5

Widnes U/13's started off their season with a win against Leigh. 

From the whistle they were encamped in the Leigh half and scored an early try through Tisdale. Another try from Lang followed after pressure from the forward pack pushed Leigh onto their try line. From the re-start Leigh began to push forward but a fine intercept by Fonterigo followed by a 60yd diagonal run saw him score the Wids' third try. The fourth try from Critchley came on the stroke of half time after more pressure from Widnes. Two conversions by Clark and Mercer saw the Wids lead at the break by 24-0. 

The second half started with Leigh applying a lot of pressure to the Widnes back line and came close to crossing the line only to be thwarted by good defence work. A clever line-out from the Leigh hooker resulted in a try for the opposition but a clever substitution from the Widnes coach put debutant Mahon on the wing for him to score his first try for the team shortly after. More pressure from Leigh proved fruitless as Widnes ran in three more tries through Julienne, Lang and Mercer. With only one conversion made, Widnes finished the game 46-5.