Player injury throws Wigton off their game against Liverpool St Helens

Gregg Smith, who was later named Wigton’s man of the match by the travelling supporters, scraped the wrong side of the post with a touchline conversion attempt in the last minute.

It would have been a fair reward for another gallant effort by the home-grown Greens who have now used 23 players in their last two matches. All of them have come through the junior ranks at the Lowmoor Road club.

The Wigton performance had the home side worried, especially when they pulled up to 17-14 midway through the second-half.

Unfortunately, just when the Greens had the momentum, the game was held-up for 25 minutes while their 19-year-old prop Lindsay Walker was treated on the pitch for what looked like a serious neck injury.

The match was moved to an adjoining training pitch; Walker was taken to hospital but the Wigton party stayed at the LSH clubhouse for four hours after the game. They were rewarded when Walker strode into the bar, neck brace in place, to the biggest cheer of the day.

Initially Wigton had opted to play into a very strong wind, but had suffered a blow when stand-off David Hanabury tweaked a hamstring inn the warm-up, which resulted in a team rte-shuffle.

It looked ominous for the Cumbrians when the home side took the lead after only two minutes when winger Matt Cunliffe got over for a try which Simon Worlsey converted.

Gradually, however, Wigton started to feel their way into the game.

Young jumper Jay Henderson excelled at the line-outs, finishing with five steals against the throw.

They showed their potential on 30 minutes with a splendid try. Gregg Smith made the midfield break, thrusting aside a Dave Cunliffe tackle. He linked with brother Scott Smith, Chris Pattinson and Calum Studholme before looping round to take the final pass and score in the corner.

Wigton then edged ahead at 8-7 with a Gregg Smith penalty.

Liverpool St. Helens knew they were in a fight and tried to up the tempo but met a resilient Wigton defence.

One spectacular combat tackle from Walker typified the resistance from the Wigton Wall.

But in the third minute of stoppage time the hosts, currently second in the table, did get their breakthrough when strong work from Ian Stanley created an unconverted try for Mark Williams.

Six minutes after the re-start Liverpool St Helens scored again as pack leader Phil Kearns went over from a well-rehearsed ploy.

Then some great rucking play by Wigton had LSH in trouble as they infringed and Smith cut the gap with two successful penalties.

Then came two crucial injuries – a dislocated finger for Herculean forward Andrew Bell and the neck injury to Walker.

When they got underway Matt Cunliffe crossed for the fourth home try and on 71 minutes he was followed over by brother David Cunliffe.

But urged for one last effort by skipper Robert Marrs, Wigton got over from the last play of the game.

Waning put his head down 15 metres out and charged for the corner, dragging three tacklers over with him. Smith’s conversion effort deserved to hit the target – but was narrowly the wrong side.

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Liverpool St Helens Match Report:-
LIVERPOOL ST HELENS 27 WIGTON 19

Yet another quality second half display secured the points for LSH in this North One West clash against a spirited and determined Wigton side. The third such performance in a row has left the LSH crowd and coaching staff wondering just what would happen if their team put it together for the full eighty minutes.

Kicking off with a strong wind at their backs LSH went ahead in the 3rd minute after a tap penalty led to Dave Cunliffe passing to Matt Cunliffe to score to the right hand side of the posts, Simon Worsley converting for a 7-0 lead.

Thereafter the half belonged to the visitors. Making the most of winning four LSH lineouts; the four LSH knock-on’s they received; the two LSH scrums they won and the eight penalties that came their way, Wigton dominated possession for the next 35 minutes. Somehow all they had to show for it was a long distance interception try involving half their team before full back Gregg Smith touched down in the 29th minute, and a penalty also from Smith, eight minutes later.

They also went very close during this period when open side prop David Waning made an interception midway in his own half and galloped towards the LSH line. The big Cumbrian was soon treading water pursued by what looked like three LSH players synchronised swimming after him. Waning almost made it before one of the LSH pursuers surfaced just in time to stop him and save a certain try.

Against the run of play and on the stroke of half time LSH finally put a cohesive move together and a series of drives enabled the hardworking second rower Mark Williams to score. Half time LSH 12 Wigton 8.

Playing into the wind seemed to have a galvanising effect on the Moss Laners as, with some forceful running from Neil Hull and Alex McClurg and looking a lot more organised, they immediately took control. As a result they went further ahead in the 51st minute with a try from Phil Kearns following a successful catch and drive. Kearns had just returned to the field following running repairs and the try sealed another top class performance from the long serving number 8.

Wigton continued to fight hard and kept themselves in touch with two Smith penalties in the 60th and 62nd minutes before LSH broke through again to lead 22-14 with a fine move involving Williams, Kearns and Dave Cunliffe sending in Matt Cunliffe for his second try close to the left hand corner flag.

A neck injury to Wigton tight head prop Lynsay Walker requiring an Ambulance then led to the game being halted and the players were led from the field. While the Ambulance was awaited agreement was reached to complete the game on an adjoining pitch. In the twelve remaining minutes both sides scored unconverted tries, Dave Cunliffe for LSH and David Waning, improving on his effort in the first half, for Wigton.

In the final analysis LSH, after a poor first half, played well in the second to win, whilst a gutsy Wigton outfit definitely did not deserve to go home pointless. They actually went home from Moss Lane four hours after the game had ended, happily, with their colleague Lynsay Walker accompanying them on the bus, having been checked over at Whiston Hospital. Wigton coach Malcolm Brown was pleased to confirm on Sunday morning that Lynsay is fine. Everyone at Moss Lane wishes the young prop a full and speedy recovery.