Huge Effort Reaps Rewards!

The conditions at Lowmoor Road were very challenging with a fierce wind blowing straight down the pitch which should have been worth at least 15 points to the team with it at their backs. Wigton lost the crucial toss and were asked to play with the wind in the first half, which was concerning to all as Wigton have not played well in the second half at all this season.

Wigton opened very brightly and pressed hard from the off, gradually using the conditions to greater and greater effect as both the returning David Hanabury and Gregg Smith found their range with the boot, putting the visitors under pressure in their own half, the wind being such that any attempt to relive pressure with a kick into the gale was proving fruitless.

Wigton pushed hard to find the first opening, understanding that they needed to get points on the board to give them a cushion for the second half. However, it took them 20 minutes to get on the scoreboard with a very well worked try down the right hand side scored by scrum half Fergus Ledingham, who was skilfully put away by evergreen hooker Stephen Carruthers.

Wigton then had to defend hard for the remainder of the first half, an area that had let them down in previous games, but not on this occasion. The defensive effort all afternoon was superbly led from the front by the second row pairing of James Brough and Mark Deans and centre Chris Pattinson who is currently in a rich vein of form. The Greens kept the Cheshire side from crossing the try line in the first half and also managed to secure a further 3 points through the boot of Gregg Smith to go into the break 10-0 ahead.

I am sure many people watching questioned whether that lead would be enough! At half time the focus of the team talk was to tighten the game up, starve the visitors of possession and tackle with passion and commitment. That is exactly what Wigton did, playing some fantastic, physical and controlled rugby and attacking with real pace where for large parts of the second half all the play was in Wilmslow’s half belying the conditions.

Again the forward effort from the Green’s was immense with Andrew Bell veteran of over 20 seasons at Lowmoor Road showing exceptional fitness to carry the attack to his opponents. He was supported by all fifteen players, with some tremendous driving play leading to gaps appearing out wide being exploited by the Wigton backs and eventually the pressure told with Richard Moffat crossing for a crucial score, converted by Gregg Smith to put the Greens 17-0 ahead with 20 minutes to go.

What followed was a defensive effort that has not been seen from the Cumbrians all season which kept Wilmslow out until 10 minutes to go when after being camped on the Wigton line they eventually crossed from short range. The conversion was successful, but Wigton then kicked off long and did not allow the visitors back within scoring range for the remainder of the game. The final whistle when it came was met with a roar from the home team, a mixture of elation at the win and relief to secure a second win of the campaign edging them slightly closer to safety.

Much more work needs to be done, but confidence goes a long way in sport and Wigton will be buoyed by their victory, ready for Widnes next week and the week after the visit of Aspatria to Lowmoor Road.