Wigton produced a very capable performance, particularly in the second half, to notch up a bonus point win over Hawcoat Park. The upshot of the game is that the Barrow outfit are now very much in the relegation dogfight, something that seemed unlikely at the start of the season when they ended Wigton's Cumbria Cup hopes. In truth, the gulf between the teams was arguably even greater than the scoreline suggests, with Hawcoat Park rarely threatening to score.

Wigton had the use of a strong wind in the first half. The strength of the wind can be gauged from the fact that virtually all the action took place in the visitors' half, often deep in their half.

Whenever Wigton got into their 22, the visitors found it very hard to achieve any distance with their clearance kicks. From midfield positions Wigton were able to use the wind to kick the ball deep into Hawcoat Park territory. Very little of significance happened in the opening quarter. Hawcoat Park's second rower Ashley Mowat dominated the front of the lineouts so Wigton usually opted to take a scrum option when awarded a penalty. Indeed, as the match progressed, Wigton established a clear advantage in the scrums.

Wigton centre Stephen Harris was closest to a try in the opening period when he was bundled into touch in the right hand corner. Scrum half Fergus Ledingham tried to snipe his way over the line from the back of a driven lineout, but he was held up. From the resulting scrum five, Wigton did not control the heel, with the ball shooting out. Winger Owen Bonney was able to reestablish forward momentum but his run for the line ended in touch. Hawcoat Park managed to clear only to the edge of their 22. On a Wigton throw, Richard Jackson caught and the lineout was driven forwards. Flanker Jay Henderson rolled off the back of the maul and as he was tackled, he offloaded to second row James Brough who scored the first try.

Wigton were soon on the attack again, this time from a scrum. No 8 Andy Brown picked up and linked with centre Richard Moffatt who carried play into the 22. Wigton were able to generate quick ball, resulting in more threatening attacks. Second row Robert Marrs rescued the move when a loose pass threatened to end it. He made a huge number of carries during the game, invariably getting Wigton on the front foot ver the gain line. With the defence stretched, Moffatt was able to power between defenders to give Wigton a 10-0 lead at halftime.

That seemed a moderate reward for a considerable advantage in possession and territory. During the interval, spectators discussed how Hawcoat Park could use the boot and the wind to create similar territorial advantage for themselves. Their lineout jumpers would probably win their own ball and exert pressure on the Wigton throws.

However, things did not pan out that way and it was Wigton who continues to dominate, putting together an impressive half of rugby. Wigton's ball carriers generated considerable momentum and the home team dominated the scrums. Wigton also had the X factor in the form of skipper David Hanabury, the fly half scoring a brace of beautiful individual tries.

For the first of these, it was a Harris break which got Wigton going. Good ball retention and continuity kept things going and then Hanabury sold two dummies and squeezed through the defence to score a stunning try. 15-0.

Hawcoat Park seemed remarkably reluctant to kick to the Wigton 22 and with Wigton continuing to take scrums at penalties, the number of lineouts was very low. Wigton were generally handling well, but the next try came from a wayward pass. It seemed to ricochet backwards off Hanabury's head and have had to retreat smartly to regathered the ball about forty yards out. From a distinctly unpromising position on the back foot he surprised the defence by stepping and jinxing his way through would be tacklers to score a second try which topped his first effort. This time he handed the kicking duties to full back Ryan Clark who had an easy task to convert for a 22-0 scoreline.

The next incident was a rather unseemly fracas of uncertain origin. Punches were clearly thrown but the referee dealt with the situation by showing a yellow card to Andy Brown and Hawcoat Park's Tim Clark. Wigton thought they had a fifth try as Bonney headed for the line, but his pass from Ryan Clark had been forward.

The game ended with the visitors showing their most threatening move of the game when they hurled 11 or 12 bodies into a driving maul which made considerable progress into the home 22, but Wigton were able to stop the move and defend their clean sheet.

David Hanabury's tries will live in the memory but a lot of good work by the pack laid the foundations for this win. Scrummaging in particular has improved during the course of the season and the collective work ethic of the team seems to be creating a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts.