Best Performance of the Season

Wigton produced their best performance of the season on Saturday, sweeping aside the challenge of visitors Hawcoat Park and scoring a number of splendid tries in an emphatic 62-0 scoreline. This was despite a number of handicapping factors. Firstly, there was the weather, which did not exactly make for fast open rugby, but some of Wigton’s handling could not have been bettered on the calmest of balmy days. Secondly Wigton made light of the 11-1 penalty count against them and finally, the sixty odd points were scored despite referee Alistair Jones calling an end to proceedings after just twenty three minutes of the second half.

Everyone played a part in the Wigton victory with the forwards dominating the scrum and making ground with almost every carry, while the backs handled and ran with a flair and accuracy that had gone missing in recent weeks.

The visitors had the first use of the stiff breeze but were rarely able to make use of it. Wigton’s first score came from the fielding of a kick in their own 22. The ball was confidently run back with Richard Moffatt making the eye catching break through the midfield. As he was tackled there was good interplay among the supporting players but somehow Wigton managed to produce a forward pass near the Hawcoat Park five metre line. However, the Wigton eight shoved the visitors off their own ball and, working the short side, after a handful of passes stand off Lewis Plackett scored the first try in the left corner. As though to underline that it was going to be Wigton’s day, scrum half Dan Reed drilled the touchline conversion into the wind to given Wigton an early 7-0 lead.

The visitors then enjoyed one of their rare periods of possession but they struggled to make ground under considerable defensive pressure. Reed conjured up a midfield interpretation, but for almost the only time in the day, the support was not close enough. Hawcoat Park tried to narrow the gap when stand off Kaighan took a shot at goal from a penalty but missed.

Wigton’s second try was remarkably similar to their first with centre Steven Harris being the one to make a break as he picked a telling angle to come onto the ball. Once again there was interpassing in the Park 22 among the supporting players, but once again there was a forward pass with the line beckoning. Once again the Wigton scrum drove Hawcoat Park off their own ball and this time Number 8 Greg Wrathall claimed the score with Reed again converting to double the Wigton lead.

Wigton showed patience as they built up to the next score, retaining the ball well with forward drives from the likes of John Story and Nathan Whitehead. Winger John Wright still had a bit to do when he received the ball in the 22 but he was able to overcome the last defenders to score. Reed, on a roll, converted to make the score 21-0.

The bonus point try was not long in coming as from the kick off the forwards again drove with conviction, Robert Marrs and Nathan Bell being prominent. As the move entered the 22 Marrs was lurking out wide, but taking the defence and his own team by surprise, he opted to pass the ball to Moffatt who beat the remaining defenders to finish with aplomb. Reed’s roll came to an end as he was unable to add the extras, but Wigton were set fair with a 26-0 lead.

For the next try Reed tried a little chip over the top which Hawcoat Park fielded but winger Charles Studholme came up with an excellent turnover. Wigton once again threatened but again were pulled up for a forward pass near the line. By this time the scrummage put in was little help to the visitors and the Wigton pack used a new move called deja vu to drive over the opposition ball and produce another No 8’s try for Wrathall, generating a 31-0 scoreline.

From the restart Marrs caught the ball, made good ground and the Moffatt broke clean through the line. Hooker Elliot Armstrong worked hard to support on the inside and was rewarded was a scoring pass to go under the sticks. Reed, as if to emphasise the difficult conditions, missed the conversion from in front of the posts as the wind decided Wigton didn’t need two more points.

That meant Wigton went into half time with a 36-0 lead and could look forward to having the wind behind them.

Soon after halftime it was Armstrong who was on the board again. Reed was relishing the conditions to make ground with his box kicks and now produced his piece de resistance, a delicate over-the-shoulder pass delivered with Fijian-like skill. Armstrong was on the same wavelength, which on another day might be a cause for concern, but this time he took the pass and powered over the line for his second try in succession. As Reed added the conversion, pushing the score to 43-0, forward Mark Deans was entertaining the crowd. Having entered the fray at half time, his nasal organ had come off second in the first big collision and he showed the extent of his skills by seeming to reset his own broken nose with only the assistance of a blood stained towel.

Wigton were now cruising up smoothly through the gears with ground being made with every carry. Story made yards up the middle whilst Moffatt broke round the outside, delivering a scoring pass to full back Josh Leeson, who still had a bit to do to get his try. That made the score 48-0.

At the same time, Wigton were eager to keep the nil part of the scoreline and Hawcoat Park found it increasingly difficult to make ground against a well organised defence. Inevitably, their moves ended with a turnover or an error. For the next try Reed initiates the attack, with Wrathall in support. Nearing the twenty two, Plackett took the pass and went for the try but was held up,over the line. That merely delayed the inevitable and a Wigton scrum meant a hat trick try for Wrathall. Half century up at 55-0.

The next try came from a midfield scrum as Armstrong galloped his way through the middle. He produced an accurate pass to put Plackett away for his second try which was successfully converted to make the score 62-0.

At this juncture the referee decided everyone had been entertained enough for one day and should instead go inside to get warm and he blew the final whistle at seven minutes past three, just avoiding the early January darkness.

This win should set a Wigton up with renewed vigour for the top four play offs. Critics may say the opposition was in the lower half of the table, but what was impressive today was the accuracy of the performance. On this form Wigton are eminently capable of upsetting the ambitions of the teams to finish above us.