Derby match proves to be a tight encounter

Carlisle emerged as winners in this local derby by a wafer thin margin of 11 points to 10. In fairness, Carlisle were deserving of their win due to a fine display from their pack who enjoyed the lion's share of possession. On the other hand, few would deny Wigton at least a losing bonus point if only for the quality of their try.

The pundits had predicted a close game and they were not wrong. Carlisle are a team where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, whereas Wigton had the more dangerous individuals.

Wigton started brightly with winger Stephen Harris fielding Carlisle's first clearance. As the Greens tried to move the ball wide quickly, Carlisle were caught offside in front of their posts, giving full back Gregg Smith a straightforward kick to give Wigton an early 0-3 lead.

Carlisle went on to dominate territory and possession for most of the rest of the half, although both sides failed to look after the ball as well as they might. Carlisle were accurate in retaining possession close to the breakdowns, although both sides looked pretty comfortable in defence. When the home side tried to hammer home their advantage they looked less accurate with their handling in the wider channels. Wigton had the individuals who looked like breaking the line, but for long periods they failed to find the continuity to build consistent pressure.

A penalty to Carlisle enabled fly half Jason Israel to kick to the visitors' 22 and set up a lineout. Carlisle got closer and closer to the Wigton line, although the tackling was sound and the defence were able to induce handling errors. However, as Wigton recovered the ball near their try line, referee Tyrone Castle brought play back for an earlier infringement. This enabled Israel to level the scores at 3-3.

Carlisle were now enjoying the advantage in possession and territory. They had the edge on the Wigton scrum, although taking the afternoon as a whole, Wigton were able to win most of their own ball despite the pressure. In the lines, Carlisle were able to win their own ball pretty comfortably whereas Wigton had a fight on their hands to win the ball on their throw. For Carlisle, flanker Tom Percival was able to win good ball at the back on Carlisle's throw, whilst exerting good pressure at the front of the line on Wigton's throw.

Twice Wigton threatened to turn attack into defence from their own 22. Firstly the ever improving centre Dan Foy almost intercepted a Carlisle pass but couldn't quite hang on to the ball. Shortly afterwards second row Mark Deans did intercept but didn't look like outpacing the defence over seventy yards and Carlisle were able to retrieve the situation.

On one of their occasional visits to the Carlisle half, Wigton were awarded a penalty for a high tackle. From 35 yards out on his wing side, Smith struck the goal attempt well but it agonisingly bounced back off the upright.

Carlisle's best try scoring opportunity of the half came in the final minutes. Full back Andy Glendinning fielded a clearance kick and set off on an elusive run back to the Wigton 22. However he sent a wayward pass to his left winger Ben Purdham and the chance was lost.

Half time came with the scores tied at 3-3. Carlisle had enjoyed enough possession to be leading, but they seemed to lack the means to finish off their opportunities. However, whilst the home team had the ball, Wigton were unable to do anything very threatening.

Carlisle continued in similar vein in the second half and a series of loose clearance kicks by Wigton invited pressure straight back on themselves. However, Carlisle continued to cough up possession in the Wigton 22. Following one such escapade, Wigton were disappointed to be penalised for driving upwards at a scrum and Israel had a simple penalty to kick and give Carlisle a 6-3 advantage. A few minutes afterwards he was just off target with another kick from just inside out he Wigton half.

Wigton started to come back into the game. Captain and flyhalf David Hanabury started to probe and make half breaks whilst in the centre, Matthew Corrigan was consistently getting over the gain line. Both sides turned the ball over in promising situations. Israel had an easier penalty from just over thirty yards out, but was unable to take advantage.

Wigton were architects of their own downfall when Carlisle scored a try shortly afterwards. A Wigton forward who shall remain nameless, tried to pass the ball down the line on the edge of the Wigton 22. Instead, it was passed to Carlisle centre Tom Fuller. A couple of passes gave winger Dan Holmes a bit of space. Two tacklers were unable to halt his progress and he crashed over the line. Replacement fly half James Telford missed the conversion, but in the context of a low scoring game, 11-3 looked like a handy lead.

Wigton finally started to string some phases of play together. A break from Hanabury with good support saw Smith tackled just five yards from the Carlisle line. However, some slipshod passing saw Wigton lose momentum and Carlisle were able to clear. Carlisle were now happy to boot the ball back into Wigton territory and dare the visitors to chance their arm from deep.

And that is exactly what the did. From a scrum inside their own 22, accurate passing under pressure got the ball to Smith out wide. He showed good pace and beat a couple of defenders to make the Carlisle 22. As he was tackled he passed inside to Hanabury. He did the same, passing inside to supporting number 8 Jay Henderson who scored between the posts. Smith added the extras and suddenly, at 11-10 the game took on a different complexion.

Wigton sensed Carlisle were rocking after seeming so comfortable for most of the match, and went for the win. From lineout ball just inside the Wigton half, Hanabury chipped and regathered the ball. Just as the alarm bells were about to go off for the home team, the hand of a despairing tackler managed to dislodge the ball. The referee came back for a penalty. From the resulting line Wigton got a catch and drive going. With the scores so close, the referee's interpretation now became all important. Carlisle avoided giving away a penalty and when Wigton released the ball, Corrigan came charging back on an inside run. Unfortunately he ran into Wigton second row Robert Marrs, giving the referee no choice but to award a scrum to Carlisle for accidental offside.

For the first time in several derby games, Carlisle looked uneasy on the own put in. The ball,was gathered at the back of the scrum but a blind off load saw the ball bobbling loose in the 22. Dan Holmes managed to drop on the ball and avoid being penalised. Panic averted, Carlisle were able to retain the ball until the clock ran down and scrum half Matty Roper kicked the ball of the field in the direction of Brunton Park.

As the whistle blew the initial reaction was one of relief for Carlisle and frustration for Wigton. However, taking the game as a whole, Carlisle were winners on merit for another top notch performance by their pack. There are few individuals who catch the eye in the Carlisle eight; Skipper Tom Graham is a county player and a known quantity. However, as a unit they seem to perform consistently despite not being a particularly big collective. Prop Alex Neil is a case in point. He is nothing to look at and many prop sized props from other clubs will fancy their chance when they see him. However, I have yet to see him bested in several game now and he epitomises why Carlisle are hard to beat.

That said, we will be eagerly awaiting the return at Lowmoor Road. We have got the players who will always put us in with a shout and a win over Carlisle must come sooner rather than later. One is definitely overdue.