Wigton haul themselves out of the bottom three

With Broughton Park still in free-fall and now next to bottom next Saturday’s game is another massive contest for the Greens, as they provide the opposition in Manchester.

For the visit of Anselmians, Wigton opted for experience against some seasoned opposition which included former Irish international Simon Mason.

As a result four of the younger members of the squad – Jordan Wood, Jay Henderson, Dan Reed and Fergus Ledingham – were left out, but their turn will come in the four remaining matches at Broughton Park and Wilmslow, and at home to Leigh and Northwich.

Anselmians opted to play into the wind in the first half but after only four minutes were ahead. Poor drill from Wigton, as they struggled at the kick-off allowed the visitors to dictate the early play. From a kick into the corner they took good line-out ball and mauled their way over for the opening try by Loa Tupoa which Mason converted from the touchline.

Gregg Smith missed with a penalty attempt for Wigton but on 14 minutes they cut the deficit with an unconverted try. It was similar to Anselmians as they mauled their ay over from a line-out and Andy Brown made the touchdown. Wigton took the lead for the first time on 17 minutes as the result of a sensational try. Anselmians had the put-in at a five-metre scrum but the Wigton forwards drove strongly to disrupt the heel.

Wily Tane Manihera stole the ball ahead of the Anselmians half-backs and broke out of defence. Chris Pattinson continued from just over half-way before sending Calum Studholme on his way, outpacing the visitors’ cover to score a try which Smith converted.

Wigton almost got away two minutes later but after great work from Tom Gardner the off-load was fumbled and the speedy Adam Williams made the interception to race 50 metres for the equalising score.

But a converted try and a penalty in the space of five minutes enabled Wigton to turn round 22-12 to the good.

First it was strong pressure from the Wigton forwards who drove over and the beaming stalwart Shaun Clorley came up with the ball after touching down. Smith added the conversion.

Half-backs David Hanabury and Tane Manihera were starting to lionk well and cause huge problems for the visitors. When they eventually infringed on 34 minutes Smith put over a penalty.

Three minutes after the restart, however, Anselmians bit into the deficit with a long-range penalty by Mason.

On 47 minutes Stuart Creighton broke well from the back of a scrum and in a pre-planned move Hanabury released Tom Gardner for a 30-yard run to the line for an unconverted try.

Teenage prop Lindsay Walker, who was making his first appearance since suffering a bad neck injury last month, came on as a replacement for Clorley but within 12 minutes was yellow-carded and from the penalty Mason shaved three more points off the lead.

Anselmians then used all their experience to make the extra man count and while Walker was in the bin Pettersen raced in for his second try. Mason converted.

At 27-25 the game could have gone either way and the next ten minutes saw some strong and committed play from both sides.

It took two tries in the last eight minutes to finally see-off Anselmians, and as far as Wigton were concerned it completed the victory without allowing their rivals to take away what would have been a vital bonus point.

Manihera put Hanabury over on 72 minutes but before that Gardner had raced 50 metres and Wigton put together several excellent phases of play before the craft of the veteran Kiwi created the opening for his half-back partner.

It was Hanabury who scored again late in the game after Creighton and replacement John Story had put in the hard yards, allowing the backs to flourish. Smith again converted.

Studholme won the Supporters Man of the Match award but there were inspiring performances throughout the Wigton squad. If they remain focused, continue to put in the extra work on the training ground and show the same commitment over the next four games then the Great Escape will have been successfully completed.