Been quiet on here of late...

So how did our friends in division 3 find the opening weekend? The good news is every fixture was completed!

We held on for a very tough win against Bolton, a new looking Bolton side from last year, a bigger and tougher pack but perhaps a lack of experience out wide in the backs - nevertheless this was a very hard fought win. If I'm honest I'm not sure we deserved it, we turned into a team of individuals and gave away penalty after penalty for offsides - some lads don't learn. Losing a key halfback after 5 minutes didn't help but no excuse for a below-par performance. Bolton meanwhile showed good shape, defended fiercely, some excellent hands and were well organised.

Looking good for Bury & Bolton - both clubs also fielded 'A' teams before the Div 3 game - Bury ran out 64-16 winners against a very inexperienced Mets side, but putting the result to one side it's great news both club had more than enough for 2 squads each, and this before the Union season or universities finish. So much so we even made rlAndy Wilson's write-up in the Guardianrl.

I'd say the only surprise result was Little Hulton turning over Wigan on their own patch:
Fitton Hill 10 - 28 Langworthy
Widnes Tigers 31 - 10 Pilkington Recs
Bury Broncos 22 - 14 Bolton Mets
Wigan Bulldogs 12 - 32 Little Hulton
Westhoughton Lions 12 - 30 Ashton Bears A
Orrell St James 46 - 6 Burtonwood Bridge

Numbers of registered players doesn't seem to be the issue - we've got more than enough for 3 Saturday teams it's players commitment to train regularly & play at the weekend. As a result teams seem to be having inconsistent 17's and the quality is going down for me. There are some good teams around the divisions but not the depth of quality teams there used to be. If the problems at youth level continue I can only see that continuing too. Maybe it's just a transition period & it will improve but the signs aren't too good at the moment.

That would be the same with us Morning Glory. We have 40 lads signed on but getting a steady 17 is the challenge.

I think the amateur game will continue in this vein for the next 10 years or so because those playing and those at the higher end of the youth game are so use to playing winter and having the summer available. It will be those kids now playing from about 13 and down, where they wont know any different to playing rugby in the summer so natural to continue to do so in the open age.

I don't think though it will ever be like the 80's and 90's (Which i know of) where the game was thriving. Cold Saturday days in the winter there was just nothing to do, these days playing in the summer there is far more options available and only the true dedicated players will be available week in, week out when sun, family days out, drinking and any other things will be more appealing.

Widnes Tigers 17 RAF A Grade 16

We had a great game on Friday evening against the RAF 2nd team. We had several lads decide they'd rather take in the game with a few pints and we found ourselves 16-0 down at oranges, but we fought back to 16-16 and with the actual last kick of the game dropped a goal from the touchline which went over via the post! Remarkable game. We host Bury this week in a 2nd vs 3rd class and having won our last 5 games we hope to keep our good run going!

Big game in Div 3 this week as teams jockey for position, it's Widnes Tigers Vs Bury as 3rd play 2nd!

Who we all taking in this?

I say Tigers by 8!

How bad was that weather today!!

Widnes Tigers 8 Bury 4

Bury scored with their first possession and it was a full on arm wrestle for most of the game. We scored in corner off a kick and converted and added a penalty in the second half. We had Harold Bishop reffing and he had his usual shocker including stopping the game to change his specs! We move up to 2nd now and the top 4 are the same as Div 4 last season!

Langworthy up next for us at home!