TERE can be no doubting the fine margins that exist between these two rivals, but once again it was the Widnesians who came out on top in an intense cup clash.

This year’s third round draw of the Lancashire Cup had produced a repeat of last year’s final and it was a depressingly familiar story of having to chase the game for Recs.

Simmies had the advantage of running down slope in the first half and with loose forward Paul Hunt proving a real handful

they also posed the greater attacking menace.

A penalty goal from scrum half Ryan Millington after 11 minutes gave the visitors an advantage which was to be extended six minutes later.

Recs defence cracked when centre Craig Millington powered through a challenge close to the tryline.

Simmies’ territorial advantage told when Hunt, who is nimble on his feet for a big man, skipped around two attempted tackles and dived over under the posts.

Millington fired over the conversion to make the score 14-0.

John Ledger’s side are known for their ability to pull off great escape and when hooker Peter Cahalin sneaked over for a try that was goaled by Rawsthorne to leave the half-time score 6-14 the stage was set for a second half fightback.

But there are few teams in the amateur game as strong as Simmies defensively and their line suffocated Recs’ attack to deny vast amounts of pressure.

Simmies’ forays up field were rare but when they got in range they went for the uprights and, after missing one easy attempt,

Millington fired one over a penalty to extend his side’s lead to 10 with a quarter of the game remaining.

Recs had chances, with sub Liam Bostock, on his return to Recs from Saints, probing hard to make openings, winger James Lacey going close and John Rees twice breaking clear only for the visitors’ scrambling defence to deny his support.

The penalties continued and by the time the referee’s patience snapped and a Simmies’ player was finally sin-binned, there was only five minutes left on the clock.

Mark Ashton did scramble over in the 80th minute – but with no injury time played – they had run out of chances to launch another attack.

Bostock was Recs’ Commhoist man of the match and Rees the Lievesley's players' player of the match.