8 Try Home Victory

Wigton recorded a comfortable 44-10 win over visitors Fleetwood in a typical end of season match for two teams who are neither challenging for promotion nor threatened by relegation. Such matches invariably see teams not at full strength and usually see wins for the home team. This was no exception. Whilst Wigton will be pleased to have registered eight tries, they were a little below par in defence.

The visitors had the better of the early exchanges as Wigton struggled to retain possession whilst Fleetwood put together a number of phases of play without suggesting any great threat. Wigton finally got onto the offensive when a well weighted grubbed kick by Fly half David Hanabury was regathered by centre Ryan Clark, setting up a good position for the Greens. From a lineout close in Wigton drove to within a couple of metres and flanker Oliver Lewis was able to pick up the ball and reach out for the first try.

Wigton soon doubled their score to 10-0. Second row Jamie Warwick made good ground from the restart and Dan Reed at scrum half put up a good box kick which was reclaimed by Wigton. The ball was moved wide and Clark made the key break and passed to winger Aron Henderson who finished strongly.

Straight from the restart Wigton caught the ball and reclaimed another Reed box kick. This time Hanabury made use of quick ball by putting centre Stephen Harris clear with a fine delayed short pass. This made the score 15-0 with the conversion once again failing to locate the vicinity of the uprights.

Fleetwood had an opportunity to get on the board with penalty kicks. First scrum half Paul Bamber failed with an attempt and then from a second attempt No 8 George Orry hit the post. However, in the follow up play Wigton were penalised again and Orry made no mistake this time, making the score 15-3.

Wigton were soon registering their four try bonus point when Reed took a quick tap from a midfield penalty. He made good progress with support runners on either side. The defenders decided to mark them and forgot to tackle Reed who gratefully ran through the gap to score under the posts. He converted his own try to make the lead 22-3.

The next try came from a lineout drive. The forwards attacked the line drawing a penalty. This was quickly tapped and an accurate pass from Hanabury gave winger Kieran Miller a run for the line, giving him his first home try, leaving the half time score at 27-3.

Miller was on the score sheet again shortly after the break. Wigton won a lineout and quick hands sent the ball along the line for Miller to register a brace of tries. Less good news for Wigton was a yellow card shown to Clark for his second high tackle.

In the next few minutes Hanabury employed a series of delicate chips to open up the defence. Wigton won a scrum five metres out followed by a penalty from which they formed a maul. When the ball was released Hanabury made a half break and reached round the defender to hand the ball to Harris for a two yard charge to the line. The conversion from Hanabury made the score 39-3.

Fleetwood now enjoyed their best period of the match as Wigton struggled to get their hands on the ball. Fleetwood's ball retention was good and strong running saw them consistently get over the gain line. They had their reward when the ball was quickly moved from the lineout to Brad Stapleton in the outside centre position. He cut inside the defence from twenty yards out to score a fine individual try. Orry converted narrowing the gap to 39-10.

Wigton meanwhile brought John Storey off the bench into the pack, marking his return to action after a long period out through injury. When Wigton finally got some ball they put together a number of phases and appropriately skipper Hanabury marked his 200th appearance by using his footwork to ghost through the defence for the final try, making the score 44-10.

The man of the match was David Hanabury who, after the match, was awarded for his 200th 1st XV appearance. Aron Henderson was also awarded for his 50th. Twenty one year old Kieran Miller grabbed a brace of tries on his home debut - another product of NTS school and Wigton Colts.