SEASON REVIEW

WIDNES UNDER 9’s

This was a big season for the under 9's, our 1st season of full contact and with only 12 players in our squad we knew we would struggle in certain matches.

We started well with a good win at Sefton, at both the Manchester and Littleborough Festival's we were beaten finalists by Manchester in both competitions. As the season progressed we grew in confidence and the only teams to defeat us in weekly matches were Vale of Lune and Collegiate, and against Collegiate we had a depleted squad due to illness.  At the Vale of Lune festival despite some hard work we did not progress beyond the 1st round. Our next festival was Rochdale, again we did not progress beyond the 1st round. At Mosley festival we played some of the best rugby we had for a long time and finished joint 3rd in the competion.  On the social side, the under 9's as a team have been to the pictures, a pantomine and spent one glorious Sunday morning training on the beach. This to me is an important part of team building and I can see it as all the boys get on so well together.  We have lost one player this season, who found it too physical, but on the plus side, we have recently signed 4 new players.    All the boys should be very proud of their efforts this season they have all worked extremely hard in both training and matches, and if we only improve slightly on last season I will be a very happy coach.

WIDNES UNDER 10’s

Widnes RUFC Under 10’s have had a fantastic season this year.

 With a playing strength of eighteen, the squad have racked up some impressive statistics this season.   

They have won the Littleborough, Vale of Lune and Rochdale Festivals, and finished runners-up in the Moseley Festival.

They have lost only two games all season, and have scored over 1100 points whilst conceding only 75 points.

WIDNES UNDER 11’s

With a playing squad of 18 players, the Under 11s have had another great season.  

They play great open rugby with maturity beyond their years.  

This year, they have won the Littleborough, Vale of Lune and Moseley Festivals, and finished runners up in their Lancashire Cup.

On their travels they continually receive praise from opposition coaches and parents alike. They are a credit both to themselves and to Widnes RUFC.

WIDNES UNDER 13’s

Widnes U/13's started the season in defence of their Lancashire Cup in style with a 46 - 5 victory against old rivals Leigh. With a growing squad they went to Sedgley Park and were too strong for their opponents, running up 31pts - nil, before being brought back to earth by a very competent Chester squad in an evening training game at Prescot Road.

Putting the defeat behind them they returned to their winning ways with victories against Fleetwood, Liverpool St Helens and Tarleton before meeting the 'men', the eventual winners of the Lancashire Cup, Preston Grasshoppers. Although the boys tried their hardest, they were beaten by a very strong team.

The boys started the New Year with a decisive victory against Blackburn, followed by a hard fought draw against West Park. As a warm up for a testing pool game in the Lancashire Cup, the boys put up a dogged display against Collegiate.

The following week saw them entertaining Vale of Lune in a bitterly contested game which Widnes won to come runners up in the pool stages of the Lancashire Cup. With the season moving on, the boys were having problems with consistency, winning hard games but losing easy ones, and of course, injuries started to play a part as well. We travelled to West Park for the quarter finals of the Lancashire Cup and although matching them we lost by a narrow margin.

With Easter being early this year, we went on our annual tour to Edinburgh where we were made most welcome by two clubs, Haddington and Kirkaldy. We got a personal tour around the home of Scottish Rugby, Murrayfield and did a little sightseeing. Us parents managed to drink the hotel out of almost everything, a rare feat for Scotland! After winning one game and losing the other, we returned home weary but happy, with some good memories and the knowledge that the boys were great ambassadors for the club.

The season's end was drawing close and we went on to win our remaining games against Rhyl, Rossendale, and lastly, Leigh. An eventful season has drawn to a close, we played 21 games, winning 14, losing 6 and drawing 1. We had five boys representing the club at Lancashire's 'Schools of Rugby', six at Lancashire's 'District Squads' and there are seven currently in the Halton U/13's Service Area at Rugby League.

The greatest loss of the season has been the 'retirement' of our two coaches Dave Clark and Jason Critchley, both of whom have made the hard decision to stand down due to family and work commitments. We will all miss them and we wish them well for the future.

Next season brings new hope and with a new 'management team' in position we can hopefully carry on with our winning ways.