Frustrating end to 2018 Campaign for Greens

Not for the first time in recent years a visit to Whitehaven was accompanied by the most extremes of weather that our Cumbrian climate can produce. Unlike Mirehouse in 2016 when a monsoon rain flooded the pitch the precipitation on this occasion consisted of driving sleet, hail, rain and a numbingly severe air temperature - Storm Deidre had arrived. Towards the end of the game the leanest of the players had to be assisted from the field and apparently in a match to the south of Whitehaven a player collapsed on the field of play through hypothermia.

Take nothing away from Whitehaven they fully deserved their 26 - 7 victory. Experienced observers all agreed that crucially for them as it turned out they had first use of the extreme elements and although Wigton started brightly with a try from Fergus Ledingham (later to become one of Deirdre’s ‘casualties’), the try was converted by Dan Reed 0 - 7.

That was about as good as it got for Wigton as Whitehaven set about controlling the first 40 minutes. Their heavier pack won regular possession and some excellent field kicking often going forty to sixty metres was putting Wigton under incessant pressure. Whitehaven scored three tries through their heavy pack exploiting field position to the full. They converted two to lead 19 - 7 at the break.

With numbingly cold hands and leaden boots Wigtons attempts to utilise the elements were less successful than their opponents had been. Handling and kicking errors were plentiful and one seemed to compound another. As is often the case in these conditions Whitehaven restricted their ambitions to retaining possession whilst not particularly interested in extending their lead. On the other hand Wigton had to retain some ambition and tried hard to create openings, a combination of errors and resolute Whitehaven defence thwarted any progress.

Put simply Wigtons error count in the second forty was too high - Whitehaven eventually broke free on 65 minutes and gained a forth bonus point try 26 - 7. Soon after with the home side ‘out of sight’ the referee blew up several minutes early. There were no complaints as the players were only too glad to get inside for a hot shower.