Widnes step up in class

Widnes 24 Oldham 14

As usual for the winners of the Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final, the hardest work begins now. But for Widnes it will not be a question of proving they are worthy of Super League, but one of preparing for the reality of life in the top flight.

The two previous winners of the trophy, Hunslet and Dewsbury, were kept out of the élite. Their stadia fell well short of requirements and, in their heart of hearts, they knew that Super League could have been the ruination of them.

But Widnes have aspired to promotion ever since they were left out of Super League in the first place and their re-built ground, the Autoquest Stadium, will be one of the best in the competition.

That leaves the team. Although Widnes were far too classy for Oldham at Spotland on Saturday, they are heavily stocked with the sort of player who gets you out of the NFP, but would not necessarily keep you out.

Some of the major contributors, however, do have a real chance of making an impact at a higher level. The hooker, Phil Cantillon, left his day job last week – something that other players must do, if they want to play in Super League – and showed his quality with a man of the match display and his 48th try of the season.

''I'd love to play for Widnes in Super League," he said. ''It's a different level, but I'll relish the challenge of the step up.''

There are others, like Simon Knox at prop and the Australian centres, Craig Weston and Jason Demetriou, who will also fancy their chances of making the transition, but their captain, the veteran scrum-half, Martin Crompton, hinted that he was retiring.

In truth, this was the least distinguished of the four NFP finals so far, but it was always Neil Kelly's Widnes who showed his unrivalled experience at this level by keeping their shape the better. The club had good news when getting confirmation that they are keeping him as well.

This might not be a bad result for Oldham, either. For a town without a club at all less than four years ago, promotion could have been too much, too soon.

Widnes: Atcheson; Munro, Demetriou, Weston, Percival; Agar, Crompton; Knox, Cantillon, Holgate, Gee, Richardson, Hodgkinson. Substitutes used: Faimalo, Long, McKinney, Craig.

Oldham: Sibson; Hayes, D.Gibbons, Rich, McNicholas; A.Gibbons, Roden; Casey, Brennan, Norton, Farrell, Henare, Mannion. Substitutes used: Ford, Clegg, Hough, Guest.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).