NORTH WEST DIVISION

Widnes Saints now play Barrow Vikings away Saturday 12th July 2008. Coach leaves at 11.30 am sharp.

North West & Cheshire Joint Table

Photos of the Blackpool game are not available courtesy of Steve McIntyre (TIW Images) our official photographer who went on a head banging weekend instead.

BLACKPOOL SEA EAGLES 10 vWIDNES SAINTS 52

                       Saints virtually confirmed themselves as winners of the North West Division despite an horrendous injury to replacement Tony Dillon, the game consequently being halted for 50 minutes and reduced to a 60 minute game. They had much too much for a plucky Blackpool side who must have assistance from the league otherwise their demise looks imminent despite all of the hard work put in. Early tries from Jez Whitfield (2), Craig Millington, Danny Sharples and Mike Fairclough pushed the visitors into a 24 point lead after only 18 minutes when Dillon broke his leg. On the resumption tries from Ryan Millington, Jez Whitfield for a deserved hat trick and Brian Gill pushed the lead to 40 before the plucky seasiders scored two tries from Tomas Sanderson and Ste Harrison the latter being converted excellently by their man of the match young Karl Davies. With Danny Barr and Davies involved in every defensive move the hosts were not likely to lie down and it was important that Fairclough ended the try scoring with his second. Ryan Millington scored three conversions, Danny Sharples, Jez Whitfield and Ronnie Wharton one each. To emphasise the spirit that this game was played in the most resounding cheer of the day came right at the end when Blackpool player coach Tom Harrison clamped his opposite number player coach Wharton and barged him into touch.

                       Man of the match Jez Whitfield who scored three and made two pushed all the way by Ryan Millington and Danny Sharples. Blackpool man of the match undoubtedly second row Baz Tucker.

            Try Scorers: Jez Whitfield (3), Mike Fairclough (2), Danny Sharples, Craig Duggan, Ryan Millington, Craig Millington, Brian Gill.

Goals: Ryan Millington (3), Danny Sharples, Jez Whitfield and Ronnie Wharton.

Team: Danny Sharples, Mike Fairclough, Jez Whitfield, Brian Gill, Adam Middleton, Ryan Millington, Craig Millington, Ben Bailey, Tony Hannon, John Cuerden, Craig Duggan, Joe Andrews, Mike Stevenson. Replacements: Mark Grady, Tony Dillon, John Woolrich, Darren McKinnon, Ronnie Wharton.

Photos of the Lymm game available courtesy of Steve McIntyre (TIW Images) at this link http://public.fotki.com/LeedsViking/amateur-rugby-leagu/widnes-saints-v-lym/

WIDNES SAINTS 42 v LYMM WOLVES 20

                       Lymm Wolves pushed the league leaders all the way in a pulsating game marred only by the broken arm to Scott Harland. Chris Freeman was stopped just short in the first minute and Mike Stevenson was caught and put in touch at the last minute by full back Martin Judge. Ben Bailey and John Cuerden went close before Harland created the space for Shaun Dourley to race over to open the scoring. Ryan Millington was successful with the first of his five conversions. Man of the match Craig Millington was causing havoc each time he got the ball and he jinxed to the line to feed the supporting Tony Hannon. A series of penalties kept Lymm in the game and from one of these the excellent Peter Cannon powered over giving Mark Martin the easier of his two conversions. Will Tilleke pushed 4 defenders out of the way and slipped a ball to Harland to race 30 metres. Rich Jones raced in for the visitors after a Saints knock on only for the hosts to score a controversial try after Jamie Edge and Bailey contrived top put Adam Middleton in at the corner. There was no questioning mike Stevenson’s game breaking try just before the break when Brian Gill and Craig Duggan released him to outpace the visitors defence to race 50 metres to the corner. Half time score 26-12.

                       Lymm hit back with tries for substitute Neil Ashurst and Cannon again after another series of silly penalties. Jamie Rowlands and Graeme Buck both went close before Ryan Millington took it upon himself to chip through and follow up to score under the sticks. Tilleke was making ground each time he touched the ball and the supporting Dourley and the Millingtons were creating chance after chance but the resolute Warrington defence held out. Craig Millington mesmerised them after 70 minutes to score a superb individual try. Bailey, Hannon and Craig Millington combined to free speedy Danny Sharples but the conversion was just wide from Tilleke.

                      Excellent performance by Lymm who have improved beyond all doubt but very ill disciplined home performance with too many silly penalties.

                        Man of the match Craig Millington pushed all the way by Ben Bailey and Mike Stevenson. Lymm man of the match undoubtedly Peter Cannon pushed by Lee Pritchard, Martin Judge and Mark Robinson..

            Try Scorers: Shaun Dourley, Danny Sharples, Adam Middleton, Mike Stevenson, Craig Millington, Ryan Millington, Scott Harland, Tony Hannon, Goals: Ryan Millington (5).

Team: Ryan Millington, Mike Stevenson, Brian Gill, Jamie Edge, Adam Middleton, Scott Harland, Shaun Dourley, John Cuerden, Craig Millington, Ben Bailey, Tony Hannon, Chris Freeman, Craig Duggan. Replacements: Mark Grady, Tony Dillon, John Woolrich, Jamie Rowlands, Danny Sharples, Will Tilleke, Graeme Buck.

   http://public.fotki.com/LeedsViking/amateur-rugby-leagu/northwich-stags-v-w/

NORTHWICH STAGS 16 v WIDNES SAINTS 38

                       Widnes Saints stay top of the league after a hard fought game against the Stags who had not previously lost this season. They came out all guns blazing using their powerful forwards and only the Saints superior fitness and skill won them the game late on. Roger Pickering tried an early field goal which went wide in the heavy wind before captain Craig Millington burst onto a Scott Harland and Mike Allen move to race in for his first try. After defending 3 sets of six on their own line the Saints defence let Northwich man of the match Lee McGarry in near the posts giving Nathan Heath an easy conversion to draw level. Only excellent defence from Ben Bailey, Ben Black, Craig Duggan and Shaun Dourley kept the hosts from crossing the Saints line. Still on defence and on 30 minutes Mike Fairclough picked up a loose ball to fly in from 30 metres. A break from Brian Gill and Adam Middleton came to an end before excellent stand off Chris Dale dummied over to put the hosts 2 points up at the break.

                       Heath burrowed over to put the Stags 6 ahead and they resolutely held onto this with some fierce tackling until Fairclough got his second after a Shaun Dourley kick had deceived the entire home side. Ryan Millington came up with the game breaker and Northwich heartbreaker after 70 minutes when from an Allen break he chipped ahead to outpace a tiring defence. The visitors then ran in 3 tries in 7 minutes to settle the game. Scott Harland scored after the Millington brothers combined to make space before Craig got his second after sidestepping the mesmerized Stags defence to score under the sticks. The Millingtons again combined to allow Allen to score in the dying minutes.

                       Man of the match Stuart Harland pushed all the way by youngsters Ben Bailey and Mike Allen. Tremendous game well refereed by official Rod Steel of Oldham.

            Try Scorers: Craig Millington (2), Mike Fairclough (2), Ryan Millington, Scott Harland, Mike Allen. Goals: Ryan Millington (5).

Team: Mike Stevenson, Mike Fairclough, Scott Harland, Adam Middleton, Brian Gill, Ryan Millington, Shaun Dourley, John Cuerden, Craig Millington, Ben Bailey, Stuart Harland, Craig Duggan, Mike Allen. Replacements: Mark Grady, Chris Fenlon, Ben Black, Joe Andrews, James Kirwan, Tony Dillon, John Woolrich.

Photos of the New Broughton game available courtesy of Steve McIntyre (TIW Images) at this link  http://public.fotki.com/LeedsViking/amateur-rugby-leagu/new-broughton-range/

NEW BROUGHTON RANGERS 12 v WIDNES SAINTS 52

14.06.08

                        Widnes Saints stay top of the league after an easy away win against the only team to beat them this season. Led by inspirational captain Craig Millington and prompting from the Harland brothers the visitors raced into a 28 point lead in as many minutes with tries from Millington put in by Mike Stevenson on the last tackle, Craig Duggan revelling in his new role of second row with 2 tries, Danny Sharples with a 40 metre race along the touch line and Mike Fairclough who copied Sharples going 40 metres on the other wing. Every Broughton kick off was returned by Ben Bailey, John Cuerden, Duggan and Stu Harland and with halfbacks Ryan Millington and Shaun Dourley setting up moves points were gained on almost every attack. The hosts used the practice gained in kicking off to deceive the Saints defence for their man of the match Lee Salisbury to create space for centre Matt Bateman to ghost in after 34 minutes. The Saints reply was immediate with a try for Millington contrived by Brian Gill and Ryan Millington to make a 04-34 half time score.

                       The hosts started the second half with a more determined defence with Neil Kirwan, Dan Baker, Dieter Marquardt and Mark Salisbury outstanding only for the relentless Saints to wear them down and score through Millington after an excellent 20 metre break from Duggan. With young props Bailey and Cuerden taking everything Broughton could offer and giving more back with very strong thoughtful running the lively hooker inevitably scored a third and fourth when he dummied through and scored under the sticks. As Saints took their foot off the gas the hosts scored two long range tries through Michael De Bot, but too little too late. Fairclough rounded off the scoring under the sticks when put in by Joe Andrews. Ryan Millington rounded off a great game with 6 conversions.

                        Man of the match 5 try Craig Millington pushed all the way by youngster Ben Bailey and 2 try Craig Duggan. Game well refereed by official Malcolm Fallon.

            Try Scorers: Craig Millington (5), Mike Fairclough (2), Craig Duggan (2) Danny Sharples.

            Goals: Ryan Millington (6).

          Team: Danny Sharples, Mike Fairclough, Scott Harland, Brian Gill, Mike Stevenson Ryan Millington, Shaun Dourley, John Cuerden, Craig Millington, Ben Bailey, Stuart Harland, Craig Duggan, Tony Hannon. Replacements: Mark Grady, Chris Fenlon, Ben Black, Joe Andrews, Danny Yates, Adam Middleton, John Woolrich.