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Wigton’s impressive home run continued with a 45-12 win over Eccles, who had more of the game than the scoreline suggests but whose failure to retain the ball in promising positions in the face of some stern defensive work proved to be their undoing.

The game started with each side knocking the ball on in turn. Both sides were liable to make mistakes in this game, but Wigton looked more likely to take their chances. When Wigton got the ball for a few phases they looked fluent and pretty accurate in their handling. However, as Wigton were putting the balls through hands on halfway, Eccles winger Mike Shaw stepped up to intercept a laboured pass and never looked like being caught as he dashed 50 yards to score. Fly half Mat Swain kicked the simple conversion to give the visitors a 0-7 lead.

Eccles fielded the ball from the restart and began a backs move down their right flank. However, this time Wigton’s fly half Dan Reed made the intercept. His reaction almost suggested that he was expecting the referee to blow his whistle for some imaginary misdemeanour, but no whistle came and Dan had to face the daunting prospect of sprinting forty yards. To be fair, this did not look likely, but Wigton got support players there and retained possession whilst attacking the line. Centre Richard Moffatt was the one who finally crashed over to narrow the gap to 5-7.

Wigton were putting together some good phases of rugby as they made the best of the good playing conditions. A clearance kick was fielded by scrum half Fergus Ledingham and was transferred from him to Reed then Moffatt. The centre made fifty yards into the visitors’ 22 where he found flanker Colin Sessford in support. Winger Stephen Harris went close to the line and neatly offloaded to prop Lindsay Walker who enthusiastically took the try. Full back Ryan Clark converted to give Wigton a 12-7 edge.

Two consecutive penalties for high tackles allowed Eccles to have possession in Wigton’s 22. However, they were undone by Wigton No 8 Greg Wrathall who won the ball on the opposition throw at the back of the line. Shortly afterwards Wrathall made a strong run to get Wigton back into Eccles territory. Wigton started to build pressure but knocked the ball on five yards from the line. Eccles failed to make the most of their let off and an indifferent clearance missed touch and handed the initiative back to Wigton. Second row Robert Marrs did the approach work with a typical powerful, rumbustious carry and then Sessford make the most of his low centre of gravity to bounce off the last defenders and claim the score. Clark’s conversion came back off the post, but Wigton were hitting their stride at 17-7.

Eccles continued to attack when they had the chance but resolute defence meant that they did not always win the battle of the gain line. This was a day when Marrs was frequently as prominent in defence as he was in attack and Eccles got little joy out of running down his channel.

Wigton had a chance to extend their lead when Moffatt fly jacked a loose pass from Eccles downfield. Unfortunately, as play reached the 22 one of the support players had strayed offside in front of the kicking Moffatt, giving Eccles a relieving kick.

A couple of penalties gave Wigton a chance to set up a lineout in scoring territory just before half time. However, once again the ball was coughed up a few yards out as the referee blew for halftime.

A ten point gap was by no means insurmountable and Eccles started the second half in determined mood, enjoying an extended period of pressure in Wigton territory. That pressure drew penalties and a yellow card when Wrathall was given ten minutes for not retiring when Eccles took a quick tap. Eccles had a kick for a nailed on three points but instead took the option of a scrum. This looked the wrong choice when Wigton isolated the ball carrier to draw a very welcome penalty.

Eccles soon had the ball again and were building pressure around half way when Wigton won a turn over. The ball was quickly moved wider to Moffatt who galloped into the Eccles 22. Reed read

the situation well and moved to come inside Moffatt as he drew the defender and then Reed gave the scoring pass to Ledingham. Clark’s conversion made the score 24-7 and the game now had a different complexion to it.

Eccles now tried to force the game, desperate to score whilst Wigton were down to fourteen men. Their game began to lose its shape and became scrappy. A penalty saw Wigton have a lineout in the twenty two. Inside centre Ollie Lewis held the defence with a strong inside line and the recycled ball was passed to Moffatt. He battered through some fairly benign tackles and clattered his way over for his second try which Clark converted.

31-7 soon became 38-7 when accurate, quick handling gave right winger Aron Henderson a try in the corner which Clark converted with aplomb.

Wrathall looked close to scoring as he bustled his way almost to the line only to be penalised for holding on. The reprieve was short lived and from Wigton’s next visit to the 22 Lewis took a short pass from Reed and broke tackles to score. Clark had a simple conversion to give Wigton a 45-7 lead.

Eccles finished well as they rediscovered some continuity. They had a clear overlap for a try but the scoring pass was fumbled. Wigton’s concession of penalties kept the pressure on. The final penalty was on the five metre line and the alert Steve Sarno at No 8 took a quick tap and was unstoppable as he landed a consolation try.

Wigton may have had half an eye on Wednesday’s Cup match against Penrith as Moffatt was withdrawn from the action and David Hanabury on the bench was not called upon.

Man of the match for a performance full of industry was Wigton second row Robert Marrs