In the final account, whilst Wigton had some great individual skill, the cohesion and strength of Carlisle's pack was the decisive factor. Carlisle's pack is not the biggest of eights but their ability to function as a unit was impressive. They gave Wigton early problems in the scrum which, by extra time, had developed into total dominance. Their ball retention and close driving game gave them the ability to protect even a modest lead.

For Carlisle, prop Joe Anderson was very prominent and hooker Tom Graham was rarely far from the action. Stand off Glen Weightman made sure that the game plan was carried out. For Wigton second row Mark Deans had a big game whilst Number 8 Mark Lee was arguably the outstanding individual on the field.

On a damp, drizzly day, Wigton suffered a blow before the game began when captain, leading try scorer and main lineout jumper Matthew Atkinson failed to recover from his foot injury. He was joined on the injured list by prop forward Andrew Bell. Both were to be missed by Wigton.

In the early exchanges both sides were conservative with Weightman either sending his big centres, Maudling and Armstrong on direct runs, or putting the ball deep into Wigton territory. Wigton were putting the boot to the ball more than has been the norm in recent weeks. The first score came when winger Callum Studholme fumbled a Weightman kick to the 22. At a subsequent scrum, Prop Peter Dobson was penalised for standing up, giving Weightman the opportunity to take three points.

Shortly afterwards a very similar incident saw Carlisle penalised for pushing upwards. Wigton used this kick to take play deep into the Carlisle half. As a Wigton attack developed, Carlisle conceded a penalty for offside, allowing Ali Ledingham to level the scores.

Carlisle then had a period of play in Wigton territory, trying to make ground with pick and go tactics. Scrum half Hughes, on the front foot, passed to Weightman who put over a well struck dropped goal, giving the visitors a narrow 3-6 advantage. Shortly after the restart, Anderson burst through the fringe defence for a forty yard run, which was ended when Gregg Smith tackle him near the 22 and Anderson was penalised for holding onto the ball.

When Wigton next had possession in the Carlisle half, Ledingham was off target with his own attempt to drop a goal. Carlisle had another chance to kick for goal just before half time. They made good progress with a catch and drive in the lineout and as play developed, Dobson was caught offside in the way of Hughes. Weightman's kick missed. The halftime score of 3-6 was a reflection of how tight the game was. Carlisle had the edge in the scrums but No 8 Lee was operating well at the base to convert the retreating scrum ball into useable possession.

From the kick off Carlisle knocked on, allowing Wigton possession. as the Greens attacked, Carlisle were again caught offside and Ledingham tied up the scores at 6-6.
Wigton were still having scrum problems despite several changes in the front row. One lost scrum put Carlisle on the attack. This time they gave the ball width and winger Paul Lancaster had a rare attacking opportunity but he was tackled into touch short of the line by winger Will Miller and the covering defence. Carlisle launched another attack but Wigton's defence was as robust as ever and they held up centre Armstrong to win a scrum. Carlisle gave away a free kick which was taken quickly. Lee and Deans combined to make good ground. Stand off Hanabury saw space on the left wing and a well weighted kick came agonisingly close to bouncing into Studholme's hands. Wigton were now enjoying their best periods of play. They forced several turnovers and from one of these Deans and Lee again made ground up the middle supporting one another. Lee looked about to be giving a scoring chance to Hanabury, but the stand off was unable to hang onto the ball.

Wigton had another attacking chance a little later. Moffatt in the centre made good ground. Deans carried the ball on and then passed to Lee on the right wing. He put in a good kick up the line and as Carlisle tried to scramble clear they conceded a scrum for a forward pass a few yards from the tryline. Wigton seemed to have blown their chance when they knocked on but referee Castle awarded a free kick against Carlisle for an early engagement at the scrum. Wigton's forwards drove hard for the line and were awarded another scrum. They managed to win decent ball and the ball moved to Hanabury. He fashioned a half gap with a little dummy and used his deceptive strength to get over the line for a try, which Ledingham was unable to convert. He had another chance with a long shot at goal when Carlisle No 8 was penalised for giving the referee the benefit of his opinion once too often. This kick too, missed.

Carlisle now went chasing the game and now their lineout started to come more and more into play. Feeney, who had given them some good early ball had left the field injured, but Halliday now became the main target. Carlisle organised well around his catches,getting men into good positions and making good ground from drives. Wigton started to concede more penalties as the game progressed, allow Weightman to push play into the Wigton red zone.

A series of drives was held up, but Carlisle had a scrum. As Wigton battled to defend it, they were penalised. As Wigton waited for a kick at goal or another scrum, Carlisle took a tap and Brumpton was driven over the line for a try, a fitting reward for his high work rate and effort. However, Weightman's conversion attempt bounced back off the crossbar, so the game was now 11-11.

Wigton made a good deep kickoff and from Carlisle's clearance were able to set up another attack. Ledingham tried another drop at goal from a long way out. He struck the ball well and got the distance, but not the direction. The game was now very tense, on the proverbial, knife edge. Wigton tried to run back Carlisle's clearance kicks but ball retention let them down at times. Carlisle meanwhile were jockeying for position, looking for a chance to get back in the home team's 22.

Wigton were penalised for hands in the ruck and Weightman found a good touch. From the subsequent possession he chipped the ball towards the Wigton line, forcing the defence to concede a five metre scrum. This looked to be a good scoring position for the City team, but the ball squirted out of the scrum and Wigton cleared.

The last few minutes of normal time were frenetic. Weightman tried another drop at goal, but his kick barely got airborne. It did however, ricochet back to Carlisle and they initiated a series of pick and go drives which promised to give them the vital score at the death. However the Wigton defence remained committed and bent but did not break. When the defenders were able to hold up the ball in a maul, the referee blew for full time.

There now followed two ten minute periods of extra time. After the action of the previous eighty minutes, extra time was something of an anti climax, as it was comfortably controlled by Carlisle. Early on, Carlisle got possession when they wrecked a Wigton scrum. Wigton were penalised for hand in the ruck on the centre of their 22, giving Weightman the simplest goal kick of the match. With a three point lead, Carlisle were able to control the pace of the rest of the match. They drove lineouts and kept the ball for long periods, denying Wigton possession. Even when the spirited Wigton defence induced knock ons or held up the ball carrier, it brought no relief, such was Carlisle's scrum dominance over the tiring Wigton pack. In the last ten minutes Carlisle had frequent attacks in the Wigton 22. It is greatly to the credit of the Wigton defence that they successfully defended their line for so long.

Right at the end, Carlisle decided to pass the ball out. It went loose and Wigton seemed to have a last chance to save their Cup dream, but referee Castles had spotted a Wigton foot in an offside position as it helped the ball on its way to the Wigton side of the ruck. This allowed Weightman to end proceedings with another penalty resulting in a scoreline of 11-17.

Carlisle must now be strongly favoured to beat Aspatria in the Final and bring the Cup to Carlisle for the first time since 1961. If they can reproduce such a dominant forward display it is difficult to see the Black Reds stopping them.

As for Wigton, there is first of all great disappointment; there will be no Cup Final and no unbeaten season. However, lessons will be learnt for next season in North West One. Carlisle are one of the strongest teams in that league. If it had been an eighty minute game we would have got two points from a draw. It suggests we are capable of holding our own next season.

The task now is to refocus and try to ensure we go unbeaten in the league. We do not want the season to fizzle out and there are big games to come, not least at Aspatria.

Well done to Carlisle who were fitting winners, but we will be back for another go at them next year!