cant comment to much on the match v Wigan Bulldogs but a daft sending off early on in the game to a key ball player did not help. The lads though were in it first half but tired in the second.

Last Saturday we took a very young team up to Oldham and played at Higginshaw's mud bath, sorry pitch v Fitton Hill. When i say young our Half back's were 18 and 19 and our front row 22, 19, 18 and we only had 3 lads over the age of 23 playing! It probably helped as the pitch was so heavy to play on Fitton tired but unfortunately the ugly side to Fitton Hill eventually showed and the game was called early so the score may have been even more had the remaining minutes been allowed to be played. The lads who pulled on the shirt did tremendous not to be intimidated out of the game.

Hopefully we will have a few more lads back for this weekend v Bury as i suspect we will need them. Even though not directly a derby a lot of lads have played with each other at various times so has the makings of a cracker. Personally cannot wait and hoping that will get picked as first time available this season and just happens to be versus my former team and lads played a lot of rugby with.

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!