Widnes U14s turned up at a cold Rossendale with the wild wind looking to trouble the lad’s passing game. Widnes started the match with 14 men because of injury but that did not affect their intensity, showing straight from the start that they could cope without the extra man by scoring the first try from a great scrum and an even better long range effort from Remy Julienne but unluckily a hard conversion was missed. After that great start Widnes hoped they could carry on with the effort but Rossendale’s number 8 broke away and with a great scrambling defence making sure that the ball was held up over the line, the benefit of the doubt was given to Rossendale and the try was awarded. In reply a great little run from the base of the scrum by Jonny Ashall, then good rucking set up a path for fly half Sam McGrory to cross the line. With poor defensive work from Widnes, Rossendale scored twice in succession and converted once to put the score at 19-12. Determined work from Widnes saw Sam McGrory force himself over the line to score his second of the day, which he also converted making the score at the half way point 19-17 to Rossendale.

With Geoff Cooke back on the field Widnes were back to 15 at the start of the second half but with tough defence work from both sides no one appeared to be making any headway until Widnes had an attacking scrum on their opponent’s 10 metre line where Jordan Tisdale crashed over for what was thought to be the deciding try of the game. With the conversion by Sam McGrory the score stood at 22-19 for Widnes. Widnes then took a bombardment of attacks from the Rossendale pack from which they showed great defence work until there was a scrum on their 10 metre line. Yet again Rossendale’s number 8 picked and went from the base of the scrum and broke through Widnes’s defensive line and scored. With time running out, Rossendale needed the conversion to pull ahead and although Widnes charged at the kicker he slotted it over for a two point lead. Widnes threw everything at Rossendale in the last few minutes but before they knew it time was up with the result going to Rossendale 26-24.