Following a 13-15 win at Port-e-Chee in September and celebrating their centenary year, Widnes looked forward to the return Regional Two North West fixture against Douglas, and not least because the bar at Heath Rd was opened to accommodate the earlier match kick-off time.
Handy then to drown some sorrows, as Douglas were in ruthless form from the off and never looked back.
The Douglas scrum took an early grip up front in the damp conditions and launched centre Harry Hewson through for a 5th minute try. Ten minutes on and after Douglas parked up in the Widnes half, relentless pressure from the Douglas front-five set the ball rolling again.
Simon Hoddinott, Conor Garland and Ralph Clarke rampant in the loose primed Liam Kirkpatrick to thunder over, and Nathan Robson added the extra’s for 0-12. Hooker Gihard Visagie’s line-out throws were nigh on perfect as Douglas continued to dominate, and Josh Duncan at number 10 turned possession in to metres gained.
Widnes were forced to kick for territory and only brought the pace of Douglas full-back Kyle Martin and winger Brendan Kelly in to action. The Douglas scrum were serving up front-foot ball, and James Ross in midfield sent Sam McCord away to continue his try scoring flurry.
Aaron Duggan broke through midfield as Widnes put pace on the ball, and fullback Alex Jones unlocked winger Jack Krause to race away on the counter attack and finally get the home side on the half-time scoreboard at 5-17.
Second Half
Douglas could afford a narrow penalty miss, and after the break Owen Carvin subbed Clarke in the front row and Mark Oldfield and Conor Stephens stepped in to the action.
McCord’s second score for the try bonus-point, born of unyielding Douglas defensive shifts and turnover ball, took Douglas out to 5-24, and the Visagie/Kirkpatrick partnership turned plumb lineout ball into unstoppable 60th-minute scoring maul for 5-31 with Robson’s conversion.
Widnes had no answer to implacable Douglas resolve, and Duncan’s deserved 78th minute try cemented a Douglas performance straight off the top shelf, winning 5-36.
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