DESPITE Ste Vickerstaffe and Liam Wilde driving the ball forward at every opportunity, Widnes failed to build on their magnificent victory over Stockport.
They crashed to a disappointing defeat against an Oldham side who are fighting relegation.
The home side won by four Brian Quinlan penalty goals to a Stu Hussey drop goal.
Widnes did cross the Oldham line twice in the first half but the referee decided firstly Nick Fellows did not get the ball down over the line and then the final pass to Peter Logan was forward.
This Sunday, Wids welcome Sedgley Park to Heath Road for a Lancashire Cup quarter-final. The game kicks off at 2pm.
Bolton 7 Widnes 2nd 24:
Matthew Buckle, at 17 years old, and Over 50 player 'Crack' Riley were at opposite ends of the age spectrum as Wids won with a range of youth and experience.
Preston, Duffy and the Loughnane brothers impressed in the Widnes pack.
Winger Buckle was solid on his senior debut, his reverse pass setting up a try for Leedam who converted himself from under the posts.
Gill scored from a tap-penalty move involving Riley and Winstanley, Leedam again improving.
Bolton hit back with a converted try but in the second half only resolute defending kept Widnes at bay before Riley and Bliss eventually crossed.
This Saturday's game is at home to Fleetwood (ko 2.30pm).
Newton-le-Willows 28, Halton 5: Halton missed out on two points on a Saturday afternoon which started badly.
Numerous cry-offs forced changes but take nothing away from the hosts who performed better.
Halton trailed 11-0 to a try and two penalties before Paul Curphey scored the visitors' only points.
A further Newton penalty made it 14-5 at half-time. Halton still believed they could turn things around but pressure failed to pay off.
Newton broke from their own half for a converted try which spelled the end for Halton. Indiscipline set in and Newton capitalised with a further converted touchdown.
Helsby 1st 47 Wirral 3rd 12:
Helsby outclassed a young Wirral side who suffered a backlash of their hosts' league match being called off by opponents Linley.
The visitors had no answer to the Helsby attack and first-half tries came from John Williams (2), Felix Jones, Mark Wakefield and Lee Thomas, who scored his first try for the club. All were converted by Rowlinson for a 35-7 advantage.
Wirral put up a much better fight in the second half and grabbed an early try.
But with Rowlinson scoring and Williams completing a hat-trick, Helsby ran out comfortable winners.
Frodsham Tandoori MoM for Helsby was tireless Terry O'Neill
This Saturday Helsby entertain Northwich in the Cheshire Plate quarter final (ko 2pm).
Helsby (from): M Williams, Walker, McKibbon, Johnson, Killalee, Gibson, O'Neill, M Wakefield, Gray, Thomas, Merrill, Rutter, J Williams, Jones, Stubbs, Healey, S Ayres, Rowlinson.
