Clean Sheet and another Win

Wigton stuttered to a win over Upper Eden. It would be unfair to say this was an unconvincing win as Wigton had the lion's share of territory and possession and never looked like losing, but it was a performance lacking in fluency with skill levels and decision making preventing the Greens wrapping up the bonus point.

Upper Eden received the ball from kick off and tried to string some phases together and work their way into the Wigton half. However, progress was not easy and Wigton gathered the ball from a knock on and went on the attack, being awarded a penalty in front of the posts which scrum half Dan Reed slotted over for an early lead.

Wigton attacked the ball on Upper Eden's throw, with Jamie Warwick winning several balls on the visitors' throw. From one such ball, Wigton moved the ball quickly to winger Ryan Clark who was stopped five metres short of the line but the defence conceded a penalty. Wigton opted for a scrum and mounted a series of short drives for the line but, frustratingly, were themselves penalised virtually on the try line.

They were soon on the attack again with a drive from the lineout. This drew a penalty which Reed tapped quickly. Full back Gregg Smith was almost through the line but the ball was kept alive. Wigton regrouped around second row Robert Marrs in front of the posts. The maul was driven and when the ball was released Smith was able to cross for a try. Reed added the conversion, giving Wigton a 10-0 lead.

Wigton then struggled to make the most of their game dominance and turn it into points, despite Upper Eden being down to fourteen men following a yellow card for a high tackle. Several times Wigton were in striking distance but poor passing or dropping the ball prevented further progress on the scoreboard until almost half time. Smith fielded a kick and chipped up the touchline, forcing Upper Eden to concede a lineout. A catch and drive duly followed with No 8 Stuart Creighton claiming the unconverted try for a 15-0 lead at half time.

Just after half time Upper Eden were hit by a further yellow card given for a deliberate knock on, as seems to be the case these days with failed interception attempts with one hand. Later in the half Creighton attempted something similar but in his case he managed to regather the ball after his initial contact, so play went on in that case.

Again, Wigton were on the Upper Eden line but the failed to emerge from a maul, allowing the visitors to clear their lines from a scrum. Wigton were trying to exert pressure on the scrum but although Upper Eden often had to deal with poor quality ball, Wigton failed to shove them off their own ball.

Wigton's third try came from Creighton again. Another line from a penalty saw a catch and drive go diagonally infield. This opened up a wide blindside and when the ball was passed out, Creighton was able to beat two defenders to score, making it 20-0.

For the rest of the half Wigton failed to find the fluency and cohesion which would enable them to register the bonus point try. Upper Eden came up with the better handling moves as they attacked on ball off the top of the lineout, getting outside Wigton's narrow defence. They didn't always manage, but on a couple of occasions Wigton had to scramble back in defence. Wigton were hit with a yellow card with fly half Matt Rogers being the recipient for a high tackle.

With some key players missing this was a solid win against a stubborn outfit. Jamie Warwick and Dan Cozens played very well - two committed and improving young forwards; but the Man of the Match Award went to ever-green scrum half Dan Reed.