THIS was the Scorpions' worst performance of the season. The small pitch didn't lend itself to open rugby but it was the Scorpions' poor ball control which nearly led to their downfall.

In the first half they were struggling to complete their sets of six tackles -- losing possession on the second or third tackle. It was only a superb defence which kept their opponents from scoring.

In a dour game there was no score after 30 minutes. Then Gareth Chadwick took a reverse pass and fed Luke Valente who took it on the burst and passed to Chris Pearson who dived over in the corner.

Pearson converted magnificently from the touchline.

Shortly after Gareth Chadwick side-stepped his way over and, with Pearson converting, it gave the Scorpions a 12-0 half-time lead.

The second half wasn't much better for the Scorpions as they repeatedly lost possession in good positions.

It was the Tigers who were next on the scoresheet when they were awarded a penalty try. Full back Shaun Towell was adjudged to have stolen the ball in a tackle over the Scorpions try line. The try was converted from in front of the posts, making it 12-6.

Tigers then had a man sent off for a late tackle on Gareth Chadwick. However, Scorpions couldn't take advantage of the extra man and with five minutes remaining Widnes scored another try. But the relatively easy conversion was missed, giving the Scorpions two valuable league points which they scarcely deserved.

In the North West Counties Under-14 competition, Blackpool Scorpions won 36-0 away at Crosfields with tries from Carl Eastwood (3), David Kirby, Gareth Skelton, Lewis Wenham and Paul Ogden. Eastwood also kicked four goals to set a new team points record of 20.