Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings rivalry 140 years old today

WARRINGTON v WIDNES - THE RIVALRY

The visit of Widnes to Arpley (Warrington’s home ground then) on January 19, 1878, was a taste of what was to follow for the next 140 years.

That meeting produced a match “with some fierceness on both sides”.

Spectators spilled on to the pitch and “a boy in the crowd was struck by the ball, and had a narrow escape of tumbling into the Mersey”.

After that, Widnes won by two tries and three touchdowns against a touch in goal.

Picture: Eddie Whitham

Here, letter by letter in the team names, we look back at the history and further unravel the fierce rivalry that still exists to this day

WARRINGTON

W Warrington home record v Widnes:

• Played 136 Won 87 Drawn 15 Lost 34

A Attendances:

• Always crowd pullers are ‘derby’ games, especially on Good Fridays.
• Wilderspool 28,989 - April 1949
• Naughton Park 22,729 - April 1950 to see a Cup final “rehearsal”
• Halliwell Jones Stadium 15,008 - March 2016 to see Warrington recover from being 0-10 down, to win 28-10, and displace Widnes at the top of the table.

Picture: Mike Boden

R Record victories:

• May 2012 - Warrington 68 Widnes 4 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.
• August 1975 – Widnes 37 Warrington 5 at Naughton Park, Widnes.

Picture: Mike Boden

R Rivalry:

• There was a gap in fixtures between 1887 and 1889 after a bad-tempered match in February 1887.
• Warrington had arranged to play Widnes home and away in the 1886-87 season but the away fixture in February ended in acrimony when the former Widnes captain, a player named Farrell, kicked Ned Gilbert, the Warrington half-back, in the ribs, causing serious injury. The game was abandoned after that and Gilbert missed the next two fixtures. Ted Warren, the Warrington secretary, noted in his annual report: "The match with Widnes ended so unpleasantly that I have declined to renew the arrangements with them for next season."

I Incidents off the pitch at Warrington:

• March 1886 - A stand holding 200 people collapsed, but no one was hurt.
• December 1897 - A crush at the turnstiles, and an exit gate was released, and hundreds rushed into the ground without payment, however several people were injured, including a boy from Widnes, who was in a critical condition.
• August 2013 - Trouble in the Widnes end with a couple of flares and fans scuffling with stewards.

Pictures: Mike Boden

N Nicko and Big Jim:

• Alias Mike Nicholas (Warrington)and Jim Mills (Widnes). These two larger than life Welsh characters from the 70s were gladiators on the field and good friends off it. Crash! Bang! Wallop!
• Both scored tries for their club on the biggest stage of all – Wembley.
• They have now teamed together to make people aware of the ‘flu jab on Beat the scrum.com

Alex Murphy, still trying to keep Nicko and Big Jim apart

Picture: Eddie Fuller

G Grounds where the teams have met as a first-class game:

• Central Park, Wigan - four times
• Wembley, London and Knowsley Road, St Helens - twice
• Irwell Road, Runcorn and Etihad Stadium, Manchester - once.
• Of the 10 neutral venue games Warrington won 7 and Widnes 3.

T Trophy finals competed for between both teams

• April 1902 - South West Lancashire League (play-off), Warrington 7 Widnes 2
• May 1950 - Challenge Cup Final, Warrington 19 Widnes 0
• May 1975 - Challenge Cup Final, Widnes 14 Warrington 7
• January 1978 - John Player Trophy, Warrington 9 Widnes 4
• April 1979 - John Player Trophy, Widnes 16 Warrington 4

O Offiah and Monaghan, five-star wingers:

• Both scored five tries in a match between Warrington and Widnes.
• Martin Offiah, the flyer, did it for Widnes in March 1989 at Naughton Park, while Joel Monaghan accomplished the feat for Warrington in May 2012 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

Picture: Eddie Whitham

Picture: Mike Boden

N n-n..nineteen and n-n..nil:

• That was the scoreline at the first derby Challenge Cup final at Wembley, May 1950.
• Witnessed by the biggest crowd between both teams, 94,249

WIDNES

W Widnes home record v Warrington:

• Played 131 Won 56 Drawn 7 Lost 68

I Incidents off the pitch at Widnes:

• May 1988 - Warrington winger Des Drummond involved in an incident when confronted by a spectator.
• April 2015 - Referee Robert Hicks halts the game for 8 minutes after a flare thrown from the Warrington end burns on the pitch.

Pictures: Mike Boden

D Dutton and Helme:

• Ray Dutton (Widnes full back 1975) and Gerry Helme (Warrington scrum-half 1950) respectively won the Lance Todd trophy, as man of the match in the Wembley Challenge Cup final of that year.

N Naughtons:

• Albert Naughton, a class centre who joined Warrington from Widnes in November 1949 for a then world record fee of £4,600
• Danny Naughton, Widnes prop forward who went on 1950 Tour, before transferring to Warrington.
• Johnny Naughton (eldest brother) played second row for Widnes in the Challenge Cup final of 1950
• Naughton Park – Was the name of the Widnes ground, named after secretary Tom Naughton, who died in a car crash in the 1930’s, and who was instrumental in raising funds to purchase the land when the ground could have become council housing!

E Excitement:

• Derby matches are always worth watching. They provide plenty of thrills and spills with players and coaches.. Doug Laughton v Alex Murphy, Reg Bowden v Parry Gordon, Stuart Wright v John Bevan, Kurt Sorensen v Les Boyd, Martin Offiah v Des Drummond, Dennis Betts v Tony Smith… up to present day heroes.

S Sendings off:

A couple of sensational dismissals here.

• December 1948 - Wonder winger Brian Bevan was sent off for the only time in his illustrious career. Jolley, the Widnes left-winger, was laid low when Bev’s right arm shot out and caught him under the chin. Pandemonium! A spectator jumped the rails and remonstrated with Bevan, who had to be given a police escort off the pitch. Bevan got a 2 match ban.
• April 1979 – In the John Player Trophy final Jim Mills was sent off by referee Fred Lindop for punching Mike Nicholas. Jim had stated that Mike should have been sent off for refusing to fight! Mills got a 4 match ban.

That's our look back at plenty of incidents on and off the field, with great players, great matches, and great memories. Do you have any other favourites?

Compiled by Stan Lewandowski, Gary Slater and Phil Ball

Pictures above: Mike Boden, Eddie Whitham, Eddie Fuller