WIDNES RUFC Under 11s finished third in the Littleborough Festival despite being a player short in all matches.

The skilled and determined Widnes side won their opening match against Leigh with stand-off Scott Critchley (Cronton School) sidestepping three defenders for the clinching try.

Ben Mercer (Farnworth) was invariably first to the breakdown with Sam Lynch (St Michael's), Michael Jones and Frankie Pinder (both Holy Family) providing excellent ball from the set plays.

Geoffrey Cooke (Farnworth) kicked some outstanding penalty goals to match his fine work as a first-time scrum-half.

Mercer and Scott Dorning (Tower College) grabbed tries in a 10-0 victory over a bigger Rochdale.

Prop Sean Quinn (Holy Family) was all action while Matthew Morgan (Ditton Primary) amazed everybody with his tackling ability- he had only taken up the game a week earlier!

With Huddersfield withdrawing, Widnes went through as group winners to the semi-finals where they went down to Rochdale in extra-time.

With Dorning and Pinder to the fore, full-back Robert Fonterigo (St Michael's) finished off a fine team move to make it 5-5.

Mercer gave Wids a lead in extra-time but Rochdale came back to win.

Any Year 6 youngsters wishing to join the team for the Manchester tournament the weekend after next should ring Jason Critchley, tel: 0797 4425203.

Inexperienced Widnes U14s put up a great fight against Winnington Park, twice coming from behind through Richard Arnold tries before losing 22-19 at home.

Tom Clare and Richard Hodgson did well on debut but for parts of the game, Widnes were two players short through injury.

Niall Brown rounded off a length-of-the-field team try while Lewis Jones and Chris Schofield kicked goals.