WIDNES saw their title hopes stall and their Cheshire Cup chances perish in a doubly disappointing weekend.
They lost at Neston on Saturday in the CD Bramall Trucks Cheshire County League's Premier Division and then missed out to Poynton in the last eight of the county knockout.
Put into bat by Neston, Widnes found runs hard to come by against Jason Voros (3-57) and Lancashire's Simon Marshall (5-88).
But James McCoy played his best innings of the season, his 61 including nine boundaries.
There were patient innings by Steve Titchard (25), Cameron Park (24) and Tony Hurdley (30).
A late flurry from Gareth Dyson (25) and Bappa Mukherjee (30no) enabled a declaration at 212-9 after 55 overs.
Neston's innings was reduced by rain to 36 overs but they set about Widnes' attack.
Four dropped catches did not help as opener Bryan Cooper accrued 86 somewhat fortunate runs.
Peers (22), Marshall (31) and Donelan (33) joined in the run chase - Widnes unable to prevent 13 being scored in the last two overs despite Mukherjee taking 4-89.
In the Cheshire Cup, Widnes were happy to restrict Poynton to 167 off their 45 overs. Tom Evans claimed 2-20.
However their batsmen never came to terms with the low, slow turning wicket - spinner James Maltman taking 2-7.
When Steve Titchard fell lbw for 44, Widnes's hopes had almost disappeared.
Mukherjee (31) gave fresh hope but the hosts fell two runs short.
Widnes must raise themselves for the visit of league leaders Oulton Park to Beaconsfield Road this Saturday.
On Sunday, Widnes 2nd play Cheadle Hulme in the A E Taylor Cup semi-finals. Both games commence at 1pm.
The seconds maintained their excellent form with a six-wicket victory over Neston 2nds.
Neston totalled 247 (Jamal Khojani 3-58) but Widnes (Luke McCoy 79, Robert Morris 67) won with an over to spare.
