Wids have achieved their main ambition - survival after step-up

IN the first of a two-part series, Steve Clark reflects on the first half of the 2024-25 campaign for Widnes RUFC...

- BY STEVE CLARK

THE recent game at Crewe & Nantwich finally brought an end to their first season in Regional 2 North West after achieving promotion the previous year.

And, overall, they cannot have been anything other than delighted with their progress so far, having survived the step up to level six, and maintaining their place in the division for next season.

Following their elevation at the end of the 2023-24 season, Widnes RUFC had only one real ambition.

That was to survive their first season in Regional 2 North West and lay down some strong foundations which would see the senior XV establish themselves as a genuine, competitive level six club.

Fortunately, they managed to achieve their goal with two rounds of the competition to spare and secure their status for the 2025/26 campaign, something that not all clubs have been able to do over recent seasons.

To some, that may not appear to have been much of an achievement.

But when you consider that Widnes RUFC is a community-based club, located in an area dominated by Premiership football and Rugby League, and playing in a league that is not always a level playing field, then to have survived has been a real success story.