Clinical Broughton

Wigton errors in a game which the home side with forward dominance should have won and a controversial end, where Broughton Park were down to 12 men.

The first half was end to end, Wigton had the first opportunity when Gregg Smith broke from half way but he delayed his pass to winger Callum Studholme who looked certain to score and the chance was lost, but then Park showed how it should be done when a loose ball was moved wide and wingers combined for top try scorer Ade Titiloye to cross for the first of his 3 tries

Wigton came back and scored through a penalty try after continuous forward pressure resulted in the maul being stopped illegally, converted by Gregg Smith. Unfortunaletyl as in previouds games the Greens could not build on this first score and allowed Park back into the game through a handling error which gave the visitors a chance to counter and Titiloye was again the finisher converted by O'brien for 14 - 7 lead.

Back came Wigton with a penalty and yellow card awarded for an illegal tackle on the 22m line. Smith hit the post with the penalty but the pressure remained and eventually skipper atkinson drove over to make it 12-14.

Park came back and scored a penalty from the reliable boot of O'brien for a 17 12 lead. Then crucially with wigton again looking like scoring from breaks by Studholme and Gardner and Moffat Parks aggressive defence created another turnover and from half way they broke and then from the ruck moved the ball wide for Titiloye to score O'brien converted from the touchline and the half time whistle blew at 12- 24.

The 2nd half was played continually in the visitors half but sadly for the greens only 1 score from a driving maul converted by smith came in a controversial finish.

Wigton turned down penalties at goal to go for territory and continue the pressure, the visitors can be commended for the enormous defensive effort but increasingly the effort became more desperate and penalty after penalty conceded, 3 yellow cards followed so by the end they had 12 men most of the penalties were in the red zone so how a penalty try was not awarded you have to wonder! Still the opportunity was there for the home team to score and different options would probably have resulted in a score which would have given them more than the losing bonus point.

Winning at home is crucial to any team avoiding relegation, Wigton had a strong squad for this game except for influential fly half David Hanabury, they have been very close in their home games but need to make better decisions and with a little bit of luck they will start winning.