Wigtons hopes of victory disappear in the fog

The game was played in dense fog on a heavy pitch and not easy for the spectators to see exactly what was happening on the opposite side of the pitch.

Wigton started brightly and a penalty on 2 minutes converted by Dan Reed gave Wigton an early 3-0 lead. This was cancelled out on 4 minutes by a penalty for Hawcoat Park. On 15 mins Wigton had a chance to take the lead but a penalty kick sailed just past the uprights. Wigton continued to push forward and were dominant in the scrums but less so in the line outs. However on 22 mins, Wigton managed to win their own line out, the forwards pushed towards the line with a series of pick and goes before the ball was passed out to the backs with Gregg Smith touching down for Wigtons first try, the conversion was missed but Wigton held a narrow 8-3 lead.

Hawcoat Park were now struggling to get out their own half and infringements gave Wigton two scrums on the Hawcoat Park 5m line but the Liverpool based referee surprisingly chose to penalise Wigton on both occasions for feeding. A further penalty on the 22m line should have increased the Wigton lead but the ball rebounded back off the post and the half time score showed a slender 8-3 lead for WIgton.

Hawcoat Park started the second half by winning their own kick off and without Wigton regaining the ball, the Hawcoat Park forwards pushed forward leading to their first try, duly converted to give the hosts a 10-8 lead. Wigton broke back with a good kick by Gregg Smith, hacked on by Richard Moffatt, who chased his own kick and managed to outrun the defensive cover to touch down for Wigtons second try, Dan Reed converted and Wigton regained the lead at 15-13.

Hawcoat Park were now fired up and Wigton were coming under severe pressure but a good break by Ryan Clark relieved the pressure and Wigton were awarded a penalty on the Hawcoat Park 15m line. Despite Wigton being dominant in the scrum but considerably less so in the line outs, a decision was taken to go for the latter. Hawcoat Park claimed the ball which was kicked 50m downfield into touch. Once again Hawcoat Park won the Wigton throw in, their forwards charged forward and touched down for a second try, unconverted to regain the lead at 18-15.

Hawcoat Park were now showing why they are a force to be reckoned with this season and Wigton had their backs to the wall and were unable to get out of their own half. The constant pressure told and Hawcoat Park touched down for a 3rd try, this time converted to extend their lead to 25-15. Wigton continued to defend heroically with captain David Hanabury taking the full force of a powerful Hawcoat Park charge which left him with a serious injury and after a lengthy period of treatment was able to leave the field and will hopefully make a quick recovery.

Hawcoat Park closed the game out to win 25-15. Wigton will rue the decision to opt for a line out instead of a scrum with 15 minutes to go but credit to Hawcoat Park who came out with all guns blazing in the second half to give a very powerful performance. Wigton must regroup now after two close defeats with two home games coming up against Upper Eden and Bolton.