Match Preview

This weekend, Anselmians travel to Widnes to try and play a fixture which has been postponed twice, first from December 9th and, latterly, February 10th. Let us hope this third attempt is successful. Ironically, Widnes will visit Malone Field in a fortnight for the return fixture.

The Heath Lane outfit and Anselmians were promoted together to North One West in 2011. The Saints lasted two seasons in the higher division but Widnes lasted five, never finishing less than seventh except, in their last season in 2015-16, when they were relegated to South Lancashire/Cheshire 1 with current league leaders, Broughton Park.

Last season, Widnes completed the double against us, winning handsomely at Malone Field, 13-49, in October and taking the spoils at Heath Road in an exciting game 34-33 as recently as last March. The latter game was a bitter blow to the Saints as they were locked in a relegation dog fight for the last few games of the season. We would eventually finish 11th and Widnes were 7th, winning thirteen and losing thirteen games.

This season, Widnes are 7th and have had mixed results. Good results away at Southport, West Park and New Brighton and a win against LSH are alongside home defeats against Bowdon, Glossop and Broughton Park.

Last weekend’s exciting victory against Bowdon means that Saints will travel with some confidence. Widnes did not play at Manchester Medics last weekend and, indeed, their last game was a narrow home win against Sefton on March 10th.

Visits to Widnes are never easy, but we have won there before and, this term, Anselmians are developing into a formidable unit, but they will be fully tested by Widnes next Saturday.