The visitors never looked back after Nick Nanyn's 18th-minute try, Nanyn also going on to kick eight goals.

Scott Grix crossed for a hat-trick, Dennis Moran scored two, and there were tries for Bob Beswick, Mark Smith, Toe Kohe-Love and Damian Blanche.

Richard Johnson got the Crusaders' consolation, Damien Quinn converting.

The match was the first of six in the Crusaders' cup group.

That was a perfect test before next Thursday's visit of Brisbane Broncos Crusaders operations manager Gerald McCarthy

The top two sides go through to the last 16, while the third-placed team also has a chance of entering the knockout stage.

"There's no disgrace in losing to a top side like Widnes," said Crusaders operations manager Gerald McCarthy.

"The lads knew they were in a match tonight, and that was a perfect test before next Thursday's visit of Brisbane Broncos.

"It was good to see a crowd of 452 given the terrible weather that blocked the valley roads and stopped Widnes fans from making the journey."

Celtic Crusaders - Tries: Johnson

Goals: Quinn

Celtic Crusaders: Duggan, Johnson, Dalle Cort, Blackwood, Ballard, Young, Van Dijk, Cale, Budworth, Dean, Wyatt, Mapp, Quinn, I'Anson.
Replacements: Fitzgerald for Blackwood (45), I'Anson for Cale (20), Toshack for Budworth (60), H. Davies for I'Anson (45).

Widnes - Tries: Nanyn, Grix 3, Beswick, Moran 2, Smith, Kohe-Love, Blanche.

Goals: Nanyn 8.

Widnes: Grix, Blanch, Kohe-Love, Nanyn, Dodd, Moran, Kain, Cassidy, Smith, Bracek, Doran, Noone, Beswick.
Replacements: Harrison for Cassidy (30), James for Bracek (48), Wilkes for Doran (62), Webster for Noone (65).

Att: 452