Back in the Game!

Wigton got their show back on the road with an emphatic 45-14 home win over Upper Eden. The game featured a lot of expansive, ambitious rugby, especially in the second half, interspersed with a lot of powerful running. Wigton fielded a team with a mixture of experience, ranging from Mark Trouw making his home debut and yet to hit double figures in terms of rugby games played ever, and David Warwick and Andrew Brown switching from coaching to playing roles and trying to show the youngsters how it should be done.

After some lively opening passages of play by both sides, it was Upper Eden who were first to cross the opposition tryline. Prop James Birkbeck burst through the defence into the 22 and fly half Daniel Todd, from the next phase charged through between two defenders to score a try which he himself converted.

It did not take Wigton long to get back on even terms. Warwick came off his wing to take the ball, linking up with Greg Wrathall, a move which drew a penalty. Wigton quickly tapped but seemed to have missed their chance when they knocked on. However, Upper Eden, rather optimistically, tried to run the ball out of defence, only to drop it. Wigton swiftly gathered it up and several phases later centre Oliver Lewis showed some nifty footwork to evade two defenders and score under the posts, Dan Reed’s conversion levelling the scores at 7-7.

The next try was not long in coming as Upper Eden looked to move the ball wide in midfield. Warwick, showing the benefit of experience, superbly anticipated the move and smartly intercepted to run under the sticks to score. The distance he travelled is the subject of some debate and may grow with each retelling. However, the consensus was that he may have covered more yards on the pitch than years in his age. Given time, he will have scored from his own in goal area.....Reed added the conversion for a 14-7 score.

Before they had the chance to add a third try, Wigton had to absorb some Upper Eden pressure in their 22. The defence held firm, won a turnover and fashioned an escape from their own half. A penalty kick made things easier. Many spectators thought Dan Reed had missed touch, but in reality he fashioned a cunning cross kick into the arms of winger Kieran Miller, who made good ground. As play developed, centre Richard Moffatt retained the ball despite a bit of a juggle and passed it on to Lewis who carried it close to the tryline. From a quick ruck Wrathall produced an excellent pass to put full back John Wright outside a defender so he could score to make the margin 19-7.

Wigton were close to adding to their tally before half time. Reed’s miss move gave Moffat space to exploit. He gave Warwick a run, but with his eyesight not being what it was twenty years ago, he passed to an opposition player. Another chance soon followed from a quickly tapped penalty as Lewis was held up over the line as the referee blew for half time.

In the second half Wigton stretched their lead, looking to run the ball at every opportunity and striving to keep moves alive whenever possible. Wrathall must have been close to setting a new record for yards gained while dragging defenders but Deans, Marrs, Trouw and Moffatt all made a lot of ground. Sometimes moves broke down when runners were bundled into touch or passes went astray, but Wigton we’re trying to finish off their opponents by the high tempo of their play.

Straight from the restart Wrathall and Deans made big inroads but Deans was forced into touch. However, Upper Eden were inaccurate with the lineout throw which was claimed by Andrew Brown at the tail, having joined the fray from the bench. A ruck was set up and Moffatt produced a well timed pass for Warwick to score his second try, giving Wigton a 24-7 lead.

Upper Eden continued to play their part in the game and had a fair share of possession in Wigton territory. At this point, Brown departed the scene for ten minutes. The referee seems not to appreciate any assistance in explanation of the laws and, bearing in mind Brown’s ageing legs, kindly gave him a short break from all that running about. From a close series of rucks Wigton looked to have kept their line intact, but a very straightforward move from a scrum saw inside centre Chris Kerr charge over for a try. Todd converted to narrow the gap to 24-14.

Wigton were soon on the score sheet again. From a line-out on halfway, a move in the backs saw Wright make a very determined run into the visitors’ 22. His offload was well taken at pace by scrum half Fergus Ledingham who still had a bit to do to wriggle over the line for the try. Reed added the extras to push the score out to 31-14.

Wigton almost scored straight from the restart with Moffatt against doing considerable damage. He found flanker Richard Jackson in support, but his pass for the try was ruled forward. It fell to Deans to initiate the next scoring move, scattering defenders as he galloped up the middle of the field. Play ended up on the Upper Eden five metre line. Ledingham had taken a number of quick taps throughout the game to keep defenders on the back foot and he now showed quick thinking and good rugby intelligence. Realising that the referee was playing advantage he knocked on and as soon as the whistle was blown he had moved to the 5 metre line, tapped and scored before the defenders could react. Reed again added the conversion and Wigton were comfortable at 38-14.

There was just time for one more try. Wigton were now exerting pressure in the scrum and forced a turnover in the opposition 22. Trouw carries hard and straight and from quick ball Reed produced a neat inside pass to Wrathall who was unstoppable. The subsequent conversion made the final score 45-14.

Hopefully that means that Wigton will travel down the road to Aspatria next week in good heart. From a crowded field of nominations the Man of the Match award went to David Warwick. He limped off the field a few minutes from the end and has yet to declare himself fit and available for next week’s encounter.