Another excellent away performance from Wigton

Wigton travelled to Lancashire to make their first visit to Tarleton full of optimism following last week's victory at Fleetwood. The weather was a big improvement on last week and allowed a fast flowing, competitive match.

Tarleton started the better with a couple of probing kicks to the corner which Wigton handled comfortably. From their first foray into the opposition half, good forward play brought a penalty in front of the posts which Ryan Clark slotted over to give Wigton an early lead after 11 minutes. A strong run by Richard Moffatt almost brought Wigton a try but as the ball was passed outside the Tarleton defence recovered and the ball went out of play.

Tarleton pushed forward and as the centre found a gap in the Wigton defence it looked a certain try until David Hanabury made a superb tackle and the ball was dropped. However Tarleton were not to be outdone and shortly afterwards their efforts were rewarded with a try in the corner to lead 5-3. As half time approached a high tackle on David Hanabury allowed Clark to convert the penalty for a 6-5 lead.

The second half began with Wigton on the attack and following a deliberate knock on, Wigton took a quick tap and with a massive overlap Wigton looked certain to score until a second deliberate knock on gave the referee no option but to award Wigton a penalty try and show the Tarleton defender a yellow card. A scrum penalty on 50 minutes enabled Tarleton to get back into the game as they reduced the deficit to 8-13.

Wigton were now having the upper hand with the forwards and in particular Mark Deans carrying the ball through several tackles and tiring out the Tarleton defence. From a line out Dan Reed cleverly kicked the ball through before he outpaced the defensive cover to touch down in the corner. Ryan Clark hit the crossbar with his conversion but Wigton had extended the lead to 18-8. Wigton were now rampant with some great attacking play by the backs with Nathan Whitehead bursting though the defence to touch down for Wigtons 3rd try which Clark easily converted.

On 65 minutes Jay Henderson made a jinking run along the touch line before offloading to Hanabury who had no problem rounding the full back to score in the corner to give Wigton a bonus point try, a great conversion from Clark gave Wigton a 32-8 advantage. Another powerful run from Deans brought Wigton a penalty inside the Tarleton half but this time the ball just sailed past the uprights. As the Tarleton players were tiring Dave Hanabury showed his class by weaving through a number of players before touching down for a trademark try beside the posts allowing Clark to slot over the conversion.

Tarleton summoned one final effort and were rewarded with a push over try which was converted to reduce the arrears to 15-39. However, a rampant Wigton had the final say with Sam Harrison managing to stop the ball going out of play as he touched down in the corner for Wigtons 6th try. Although the conversion just missed Wigton had won a really entertaining game 44-15. The Tarleton players never gave up and were dangerous with ball in hand but Wigton were excellent producing their best away performance of the season.