While the scoreline(24-0) suggests a one-sided affair, Hornets competed on an equal footing with their full time opponents for most of this game. Two tries gifted from dropped balls provided the platform for Widnes' win - and a little composure at key times could have seen the game a much closer contest.

Played in persistent drizzle - and with the former Naughton Park offering all the atmosphere of an asteroid - this game displayed all the attributes of a low key occasion. Add to that the almost surrealist antics of French Referee Mr Alibert - who looked like a bloke trying to ref for the first time having learned the moves from old footage of Fred Lindop and Trevor Court - and you just knew it was going to be one of those afternoons.

For the first 20 minutes the only real moment of incision came when Simon Svabic unzipped the home defence; his 40 metre break backed up left by his entire threequarter line in space and right by Gary Hulse in traffic. Seeking the most direct route to the line, Svabic passed right and Hulse was smothered by the covering defence.

Widnes took full advantage of the let-off and took the ball back upfield for Blanch to score following a teasing cross-field kick from Moran.

Excitement over, the game settled back into a battle of forward attrition; both packs grinding out the hard yards and both half back pairings struggling to set up any meaningful ball. With the half-time hooter clearing its throat, Hornets worked the ball smartly through the left centre channel, but Bolu Fagborun dropped the ball under close attention of defenders and Blanch cheerfully gathered to sprint 50 unchallenged metres to score.

An unfitting end to a half short on chances.

Widnes started the second half at a higher tempo - and this suited Hornets who responded in kind. Good approach play saw Tommy Goulden crash through a sea of limbs only to be adjudged to have landed the wrong way up; then a block-busting 40 metre break by Byron Smith gave Hornets the field position to force a repeat set.

However, with Widnes pinned in their own half, Fagborun coughed the football; Doran returned with with 60 metres interest and, with Hornets' defence stretched and scrambling, Kirk took advantage to score.

Widnes 18-nil to the good without really having put together one passage of lucid football.

But Hornets continued to work hard; Svabic driving Widnes back upfield with a series of raking kicks, the pack standing its ground on defence. As the effort began to take its toll, Widnes worked their one move of the game - Webster stepping past tired tacklers to score by the posts.

As Widnes declared and went through the drills, Hornets launched one last attack. Svabic hoisted the ball into the in-goal; the Widnes defence watched it spiral to the ground; a swathe of Hornets limbs dived in - to no avail. And that was pretty much your lot.

Widnes' reward for this unconvincing performance is a home tie against Castleford, who shoved 40-odd points through Leigh in their quarter final.

And we can go back to concentrating on the league - starting next week at Hilton park.