Wigton Beat Penrith in County Cup Semi

Wigton started strongly as scrum half Fergus Ledingham snaffled a ball at the base of Penrith's scrum. Wigton retained the ball as they launched a series of close range attacks. At one point the ball was in danger of going astray, but good tidying by prop Russell Mclean got things on track again. The move concluded with centre Will Miller battering through four would-be tacklers for the first try, converted by Tom Gardner.

However Penrith scored from the restart as they regained possession with Gary Hodgson surging into the Wigton 22. The ball was moved to Jon Fell who was tackled a few yards short and then moved over to the opposite wing whee the cover was thinner. A long pass hit the deck but bounced kindly and Jamie McNaughton on the left wing crossed for a try converted by Pale Tuilagi. 7-7

Both sides were committed to playing at a high tempo and tries always looked likely. Scrum half Ed Swale took a quick tap to run into the Wigton 22. Both sides were less than accurate with their handling and there were constant turnovers at this point. Penrith's centre Mike Hawley finally decided to put boot to ball, finding touch just short of the Wigton line. Atkinson won the line for Wigton, but the ball was spilled in the maul. It was then Penrith's turn to mishandle as an attempt to spread play quickly resulted in centre Phil Armstrong knocking on. However, Wigton's clearing kicks were failing to find touch, inviting more attacks from the home side. It was frantic stuff and Wigton were looking to counter attack with any possession that came their way. One such passage of play led to a break from full back Gregg Smith taking play back into the Wigton half. For Wigton. Miller was proving a real handful whilst Penrith back rowers Hodgson and Ryan Johnson invariably bustled their way over the gain line.

Wigton's next scoring chance came when Smith's chip was smuggled into touch by his opposite number Ben Littleton, giving Wigton the throw at a lineout on the five metre line. The ball was kept tight and the forwards tried to batter their way over. Eventually, Wigton were able to create a maul which resulted in Atkinson being driven over the line. Gardner added the extras for a 7-14 score.
Penrith then proceeded to dominate the middle half hour or so of the match, during which time Wigton's discipline let them down and three men were yellow carded.

A confident Wigton tried to attack from the kick off but did not get very far before they were penalised for holding on. Tuilagi's penalty attempt came back off the post, but the clearance kick went only to Hodgson who got the home side back on the attack again. However, composure let them down and a knock on close to the line relieved the pressure. However Penrith had their tails up and attacked again. When flanker John Story offended in the red zone, to no one's surprise, referee Ben Blain flourished the yellow card. Instead of going for goal, Penrith opted for the scrum with 8 against 7. In what was, in retrospect, a pivotal passage of play, Wigton's seven men first of all held the Penrith drive, and then as Johnson drove for the line, the ball was ripped from his grasp.

A defensive scrum held up well and No 8 Stuart Creighton, who had a big game, carried away from the danger area. However, Penrith regained possession just outside the Wigton 22. Their next attack was halted by a David Hanabury tackle but he was deemed to be offside and was sent to join Story on the sidelines. With Wigton down to 13, Penrith slightly surprisingly, given some earlier decisions, took the points on offer as Tuilagi narrowed the gap to 10-14.

Shortly after the restart Wigton offended again, allowing Penrith to set up a lineout deep in the 22. As they retained possession well, probing for openings, superior numbers finally told as Tuilagi got the line into space and went over from twenty yards out. His conversion gave Penrith a 17-14 lead as half time came.

Given the amount of pressure they had absorbed with men off the field, Wigton cannot have been too disheartened to be still very much in the game.

The second half started with Wigton still on 13 men and Penrith soon won a turnover. Hayley's long grubber was dangerous, but it was knocked on as his team mates tried to regather and Wigton's winger Harris produced some irritant defensive work. Story returned to the fray, but the pressure was still on Wigton. A scrum for Penrith twenty yards out was followed by a little break by Tuilagi. He found hooker cum prop James Thornton in support, who attacked the line but was able to slip the ball to flanker JJ Key for the youngster to score. Tuilagi's conversion gave Penrith a ten point cushion as the score reached 24-14.

Hawley seemed to have hit upon the tactic of using long raking kicks to keep play in the Wigton half, although Smith and the returning Hanabury started to use the boot to better effect rather than risk attacks from deep. However, when Tom Gardner was yellow carded for dangerous play after he fell onto a tackled player, things looked bleak for Wigton. However, the psychological battle was now about to begin. Even with 14 men, Wigton continued to show character and self belief. Over the next few minutes it became clear that Penrith's difficult season had left mental scars and they seemed to grow in the belief that they could still lose and confidence ebbed.

It started with a penalty to Wigton which Smith, in the absence of Gardner opted to kick. He hit the post from just outside the 22, but like Wigton in the first half, Penrith failed to clear the danger and Wigton came surging back. Runs from Miller, Marrs and Atkinson all layed a part in getting Wigton close to the line. When Thornton offended, Mr Blain showed his consistency and promptly showed him the yellow card.

Wigton took the familiar option of using the tap to set up a maul, but they were held up over the line. From the scrum five, Penrith's seven men had to stay in the scrum to counter any drive, but Creighton was quickly away from the base and passes out to Smith. As he reached the line he was tackled, but support came in behind him to drive him over for the try. Smith then proceeded to drill over a conversion which was much harder than the penalty he had missed. 24-21.

As Gardner returned, Wigton had their tails up and were soon gifted possession when Tuilagi's drop kick failed to cross the ten metre line. Both sides now sensed the game was in the balance and nerves were very evident. The next piece of brilliant play could win the game, or indeed, the next mistake lose it. The tension was palpable.

With both sides back to 15 men, Miller made a final strong burst to get Wigton into the home 22. A series of attacks pushed the defenders deeper towards their own line as tacklers were put to a final test. A loose pass seemed to have blown it, but for the second vital time in the game, Mclean picked up and rescued the situation by taking the ball forward. The ball was recycled and Creighton passed to Smith at the end of the line. In the gathering gloom, he showed great footwork and a marvellous sense of occasion to jink his way over the line, sending the Wigton supporters into paroxysms of delight. With the score now 24-26, Gardner's missed conversion from wide out war irrelevant as Mr Blain's next action was to blow the final whistle.

This was a win to lift the spirits and become the stuff of legend........always supposing that it is followed up by a win in the final.

There were candidates aplenty for Man of the Match. In the pack Creighton and Mclean produced important plays at vital times, whilst Miller and Smith were instrumental in the win.

Wigton go on to face the challenge of St Benedicts in the final. Wigton will start as favourites, but As Bennies showed in their semi at Carlisle, they are a side not to be underestimated and have
performed strongly in Cumbria this season in the league. Coach Malcolm Brown now has to ensure our collective loins are girded to meet their challenge.