Big spending Widnes brought their team of full time show-ponies and Wigan rejects to Spotland, but left leaving the majority of those present wondering exactly what it is the Chemics do all week while Hornets' lads are at work.

On a sweltering afternoon, Widnes' initial blast caught Hornets cold. Two tries in seven minutes from Nanyn and Blanch shot the visitors into the lead. Hornets replied almost immediately, Lee 'Pogo' Patterson making the extra man on the outside, Kev King adding the extras.

The impudence of Hornets' reply shook Widnes into action. A kick from Moran found Smith with space to score; then Allen crashed in off a short ball and - out of nowhere - Hornets were 22-6 adrift with just 20 minutes played.

Hornets regrouped and grabbed the game by the scruff. Good approach play and pressure paid off when Lee Doran proved too strong for flapping defenders; then Richard Varkulis finished off a sweeping 70 metre break, steaming straight through Nanyn for a fine try.

Hornets were bback on the offensive immediately. Again, good appproach play - including a mercurial break from Phil Hasty - put Widnes under pressure. With the visiting defence stretched left, Dave McConnell's pinpoint pass in the opposite direction sent Kev King n at the corner. But wait...

With both near side touch judge and referee seemingly happy with the try, the far side touch judge 60 metres away stood off. Referee Thaler went for a chat and - persuaded by the eagle eyed touchie who saw something that no-one else in the ground did - struck off the effort for a supposed forward pass. Uproar in the stands and Widnes off the hook.

But Hornets lifted themselves for one last push. With the visitors' defence backpedalling, Hornets rushed into the void. Hasty worked the ball to Chris Giles and Mark McCully powered the ball under the black dot. King converted on the hooter and the main stand rose to cheer hornets in 24-22 ahead.

Following an early penalty from Kev King, the second half mirrored the first. Quick tries from Nanyn, Dodd and Wilkes restored Widnes' lead. But Hornets dug deep and, with the full time side fading in the heat, hit back.

Firstly, expansive football tied Widnes in knots and Chris Giles was on the end of some super rugby to score; then Phil Cantillon's trademark scoot left the visitors defence flat-footed.

And so it was that Hornets came up just 8 points short against a full time team with Super league ambitions. Following a huge-hearted performance that saw his side roared from the field in defeat, Darren Abram said: "I think it was one that got away. If we'd played a bit smarter we would have beaten them. I'm happy - the pride and passion in our performance was back."

Indeed, Hornets showed just what they are capable of when they believe in their ability to play fast open football.