WIDS' inconsistent campaign suffered another major blip at Moorgate Avenue as they crashed out of the Lancashire Trophy by eight tries to one.

South Lancs Cheshire One lead-ers Rochdale outplayed Widnes and will hopefully join the relegation-threatened Heath Road men in North West Two next season, rather than replace them.

Rochdale raced to a 21-point lead but Widnes stopped the rot with a smart try on 34 minutes.

Stu Hussey set up Richard Barraclough to gallop under the posts for Hussey to convert.

The second half was one-way traffic as Widnes capitulated and the hosts ran in six more tries.

Both sides fielded 17-year-olds with Rochdale's Andy Rawlinson scoring 22 points with a try, four conversions and three penalties.

Adam Higham made a competent debut for the Wids, stepping up from the junior Colts. nWidnes have a week's rest before travelling to Bowdon to start their fight against the drop.

The Wids have three league games left this season and are only a point above Oldham, who are in the third relegation place. Widnes 2nd 56 Macclesfield 7: Victory guarantees automatic promotion for the second string in their first season of league rugby.

First-team demands led to a couple of 17-year-olds - Leather and Wright - excelling on their senior debuts and several veterans joining the fray.

The game was closely contested initially and only resolute defending, particularly from Adam Loughnane, Clive Winstanley and Lamb, kept Macc at bay.

The return of Hodgson allowed Brick to find the target on every lineout.

The latter also won a significant number of opposition throws.

This abundant supply of ball eventually enabled Widnes backs to score eight converted tries.

Peter Wright scored two on his debut while Morgan likewise grabbed a couple. The others were from Leedham, Evans, Gill and Barnes with Evans boasting a 100% conversion rate.

Widnes U13 22 Liverpool Collegiate U13 19: Fantastic defence in the second half, when Collegiate's giant pack threw everything at them, brought its reward with a Lancashire Cup final date against Ormskirk.

Nelson opened the scoring with a well-taken penalty and centre Chris Schofield went over from 20 yards to give Wids a 10-0 half-time lead.

Collegiate came back strongly and went 12-10 ahead before Andrew Stevens-Davies struck from long range to regain the advantage at 15-12.

Schofield then forced a mistake from the Collegiate full-back before romping home and Nelson converted.

Collegiate scored under the posts to reduce the deficit to two points and set up a nailbiting finale.

Tigerish tackling in the forwards won the day with Alex Yates saving two certain tries. Widnes U15 19 Aldwinians U15 38: Widnes were thwarted by two late touchdowns and decisions going against them.

The Wids had fallen behind but hit back with tries from Newall, a brilliant solo effort, and Grimes plus two Morgan goals.

Aldwinians regained the lead with two tries before half-time.

Their 17-14 lead was extended by a well-worked try and Widnes started to take the game to the Mancunians through Vowles, Williamson, McMuldroch and Wilcox for Rainbow Carpet Care MoM Forrest to barge over.

From the restart, Semple scorched down the wing to cross near the posts, only to be brought back when a touch judge ruled he had put a foot on the touchline.

Widnes got over again through Stewart but the ref adjudged he was held up. Aldwinians then sealed the game with two tries.