LIVERPOOL St Helens remain top of South Lancashire/Cheshire one but only after making heavy weather of the win over Widnes.

After having a try controversially disallowed they opened up the scoring with a catch and drive from 20 yards out, scored by Houlton and converted by Filson, Widnes, who had been pegged back in their own quarter for a while, eventually did break and when a poor clearing kick from LSH found the away full back they had a simple job of working the ball through hands for the winger to score wide out.

Again LSH went back on the attack and on the stroke of half time, captain Wilson decided to take matters into his own hands with a trademark scampering run from about thirty yards, weaving in and out to score near the posts, converted by Filson for a 14-5 lead.

The second half picked up where the first left off with LSH having all of the game but squandering chances until they clicked into gear for fifteen minutes and ran in three tries.

The first came from the trusted forward drive method, scored by Kearns and converted by Filson followed by two tries in as many minutes from winger Heslop and Filson, who showed good speed and strength to go around the defence, following a good break from debutant full back McBride, both unconverted, to put LSH 31-5 in front.

Widnes scored a deserved try before LSH responded with what proved to be a very important try as a poor kick found Wilson who again went on a blistering run through the defence before slipping a pass to Stanley allowing him to get over the line under the posts, converted by Filson.

Then an inexplicable and crazy last five minutes saw Widnes managing to run in three converted tries and most observers felt that if the game had gone on longer the visitors would have scored more. A relieved LSH were glad to hear the final whistle.

Overall a win is a win, but in a game where LSH could’ve chalked up more than ten tries, the home faithful felt a little disgruntle that the scoreboard was so tight in the end. There is no fixture next Saturday so the next match will be away at Manchester on October 22nd.