Outstanding home form continues!

After two indifferent performances on the road, Wigton were reinvigorated by the magical properties of the Lowmoor Road turf, producing a 35-13 win over a lively Tarleton side. This was a performance which got better as it went on, with Wigton being rampant in the last twenty minutes just as Tarleton had hopes of getting back into the fixture.

Fly half David Hanabury, returning to the side in top form, was instrumental in Wigton’s first score. His initial break got Wigton into Tarleton territory and scrum half Sam Harrison continued the momentum with a little sniping run. Wigton’s endeavours were rewarded with a penalty which full back Ryan Clark kicked to give his side a 3-0 lead.

However, Tarleton were eager to use their back division and made good ground themselves, getting wide and outside the defence quickly. However, they were guilty of inaccurate passing at times and were unable to make the most of their opportunities as the Wigton defence scrambled effectively.

Wigton had a chance to add to the lead with a lineout on the edge on the Tarleton 22 but the throw to the tail of the line went astray. Another chance to set up camp in the visitors’ 22 came with a midfield penalty following a good rip by Hanabury, but the kick to touch was ruled touch in goal and play resumed with a scrum to Tarleton. They too failed to make the most of their opportunities when fly half Fraser Greaves tried a cross field kick to his wing which instead went over the dead ball line.

Wigton got a lineout drive going and took play right up to the tryline. However, with a try in the offing, the ball was knocked on and Tarleton had a relieving scrum. They did not take their chance to clear as flanker Josh Nicholson charged down the clearance kick which fell in goal and Nicholson dropped on the ball to claim the try. An excellent conversion from Clark wide on the left gave Wigton a 10-0 lead.

Having first use of the breeze Wigton were eager to extend their lead and spent most of the last ten minutes on the attack in Tarleton’s 22. Mark Deans was sure he had crashed over the line to score but referee Martin Denvir judged the ball to have been held up. Chances continued to go begging with Clark being disposed as he was diving over the line. Tarleton, on the other hand, seemed to be unwilling to leave their own tryline. One clearance kick bizarrely hit the underside of the cross bar and ricocheted back into Wigton hands. The merry-go-round of missed scoring chances and botched clearances continued till half time, leaving Wigton supporters hoping their team would not be made to play for their profligacy.

The second half continued in similar vein before Wigton hit top form and sailed home with a wet sail.

No 8 Greg Wrathall, who had a most impressive game, carved through the defence as he fielded the restart. Hanabury and Clark linked well to continue the move which drew a penalty. A lineout was taken a few yards out, but again, a long throw failed to come off.

Wigton were under pressure themselves when the defence fumbled picking up the ball on the home 22. From the scrum Tarleton’s No 8 Frankie Skofic made a strong burst along the touch line but his inside pass to try and find support went forward. It was not long before Tarleton put points on the ball with full back Will Fell kicking a penalty to narrow the score to 10-3.

Wigton soon hit back from a scrum around halfway. Wrathall initially picked up and soft hands from prop Lindsay Walker put Deans through a gap. The recycled ball went to Hanabury who ghosted through a gap and then passed to his centre Richard Moffatt to finish the move with a try. Clark was unable to convert into the wind but Wigton had a breathing space at 15-3.

That space soon narrowed as Wigton knocked on a difficult, hanging restart. Tarleton drew a penalty which the kicked into the corner. Second row Tom Eckersley made a good catch at the front and the rest of the pack executed an excellent drive with hooker Jamie Bantleman claiming the try. Fell converted and at 15-10 with use of the wind, Tarleton must have had high hopes of winning the game. Wigton, on the other hand, had other ideas as, with the pressure on, they produced a superb purple patch. The pack were very prominent in open play with Walker showing excellent handling under pressure and Deans and Matt Corrigan doing some heavy duty ball carrying. Jamie Warwick offered himself time and time again as Wigton showed excellent retention and the passes started to stick. In the backs Hanabury and Moffatt had the defensive alarm bells ringing as they took advantage of quick front foot ball.

First, a terrific counter attack from a clearance kick resulted in a penalty which Clark took calmly to make the lead 18-10. Tarleton’s next possession saw them awarded a penalty on the Wigton 22. Given the efficiency with which they had scored from a lineout, it must have been tempting to try and repeat the treatment. More cautiously they opted to narrow the gap to five points again as Fell kicked the goal. At 18-13, they were to see little of the ball in the remainder of the game.

Tarleton spilled the ball from the restart giving Wigton a scrum. From first phase ball Hanabury combined with Moffatt to put the centre through a gap. From a position deep in Tarleton territory Warwick took the ball up to the line with Deans claiming a close quarter try for a 23-13 lead.

Wigton fielded the restart and the forwards made ground with almost every carry as they worked their way down field. A penalty put play again in the Tarleton 22. Lineout ball went to the backs and again Hanabury teased out a chink in the defence again linking with Moffatt. He didn’t quite make the line but Colin Sessford was backing up as every flanker pushed onto the wing should, and claimed the try.

The final try started when Deans took quick tap on halfway. Without a lot of fuss, but with a lot of good retention and patience, the ball was worked closer and closer to the tryline and after many hands carrying the ball, Deans finished off what he had started to claim his second try. That made the final score 35-13, rounding off a second half performance reminiscent of the game against Fleetwood and a world removed from the game’s against Keswick and Cockermouth. The game also gave evidence of strength in depth in the forwards with several leading lights out of action or unavailable for today’s game. This may give coach Mark Lee the best type of selection problem as he chooses the pack for next week’s visit of Bolton.