Black Reds edge close encounter

Aspatria emerged as winners in this encounter between what were two fairly evenly matched sides. Both sides enjoyed long periods of possession but generally speaking, defences coped for most of the match. There were few memorable moments, with a lot of cancelling out although both the Aspatria tries demonstrated top drawer finishing.

In the opening period of the game both sides had a good feel of the ball as they moved through several phases of play. Aspatria had the first use of a awkward breeze and looked to try and pin back Wigton in their own 22. However, territory and possession were fairly even. The home team got the scoreboard moving first when the unerring boot of scrum half Jack Clegg kicked a penalty awarded for a high tackle.

On their next possession Aspatria tried to open up play but a move between full back Vickers and winger Ward broke down and the ball hit the deck. Wigton centre Gregg Smith got his foot to the ball, pushing play deep into the Aspatria 22. Aspatria got men back but gave away a penalty just short of the line. The offence was compounded by Ward kicking the ball away. Referee Castles deemed this to have deprived Wigton of a chance take a quick tap and Ward was shown the yellow card.

Wigton tried a forward move to set up a maul, but it was held up over the line. Wigton were awarded a scrum. No 8 Jay Henderson went blind but found the short side well guarded. A series of close pick up and drives gradually made progress towards the line with Stuart Creighton finally crossing at close range for the try. Gregg Smith converted to give Wigton a 3-7 lead.

Wigton were close to extending their lead shortly afterwards when winger Josh Leeson fielded a kick in his own 22. He set off and the field seemed to open up for him. He passed to his opposite winger Aron Henderson. With support running up on the inside, the last defender managed to block the potential scoring pass. Wigton had a scrum but Aspatria held firm and eventually cleared.

Next time they got into Wigton territory, Aspatria extended their lead. The ball was won at a lineout and was passed to the left wing and then back to the right flank. Second row Matthew Atkinson drew defenders in and he passed to right winger Scott Rooke. Rooke had plenty of room in which to operate and showed good footwork to beat the last defender and a score a well rounded off try. Clegg converted for a 10-7 lead.

Wigton failed to take advantage of their next opportunity when a penalty kick failed to find touch in the Aspatria 22. Aspatria cleared deep, so instead of having a lineout in the Aspatria 22, Wigton threw into a line on their own 22. Aspatria pinched the ball on the Wigton throw, gaining possession in a dangerous position. Fly half Craig Foster's dummy opened up play and got him behind the defence. He then passed to centre Andrew Miller coming back on a dangerous angle and he crashed over under the sticks. Clegg's conversion was a formality and Aspatria now held a 17-7 lead.

Wigton got back into the home 22 but surrendered the initiative with a spilled pass. Aspatria counterattacked and Ward opted for a chip and chase. Wigton were able to clean up the ball just short of the line as an overeager follow up saw Aspatria penalised. A series of penalties enabled Wigton to end the half on the home five yard line.

Aspatria scored first in the second half when Clegg extended the lead to 20-7 with a penalty for a ruck offence. However, Aspatria were to see little of the Wigton end of the field for much of the rest of the half, large portions of which were spent around the five metre line.

Wigton battered away at the home line, mainly through the forwards, but Aspatria held them at bay as the tactics became increasingly predictable. Similarly, when Wigton opted to use their backs, the Black Reds watched the dangerous Hanabury and Smith very closely and rarely looked like their line would be broken. A long series of penalties ensured that Wigton would have ample opportunities to turn the screw. Ironically one of their more threatening started from much deeper. Quick hands got the ball to Aron Henderson and he stepped infield to find space and get into the 22. Unfortunately he was unable to locate full back Ryan Clark with his final pass which went forward.

Wigton had a whole host of lineouts, scrums and penalties in the Aspatria 22 as they besieged the line. Progress was usually slow and incremental but, despite a few wayward lineouts, pressure was maintained. Front row forward Ian McDowell was the recipient of an inevitable yellow card as penalty followed penalty. On one occasion the ball was moved to midfield and centre Stephen Harris came crashing over the line, only to be held up. Eventually the persistent pressure told and from the umpteenth close scrum, Jay Henderson got over the line. Smith converted to close the score to 20-14. Wigton were in with a sniff although the clock was against them.

A penalty in midfield gave Wigton a chance to reapply pressure, but touch was missed and from the resultant passage of play a penalty enabled Clegg to nudge his team 23-14 ahead. A final lineout in the Aspatria 22 was lost and the home team were able to run the clock down comfortably for the last few phases.

Despite the defeat, Wigton's performance was several times better than last week's disjointed win over Workington and there are still a number of players to return to action. Taking the match as whole, there were few areas where either side had a clear advantage over the other but Aspatria took their chances better in a game which was quite similar to the corresponding fixture last year.