Bennies beat the Greens

Wigton got their league programme underway, but not in the style they would have liked, going down to St Benedicts 19-22.

Bennies started the first half well, winning the ball from their own kick off and soon winning a penalty which they were unable to convert. Wigton’s fly half Fergus Ledingham produces a long kick to take play deep into the visitors’ half but Bennies were soon launching an attack from a midfield line out. Quick hands and good support play cut the Wigton defence open and full back Ryan Fisher went over for a try in the left hand corner. Hooker Kristian Wood converted well from wide out to give St Benedicts a 0-7 lead.

This spurred Wigton into action and they dominated the rest of the half territorially, with most of the game taking place in the Bennies half. Centre Matthew Corrigan made some damaging runs for Wigton, and one of these set up a field position deep in the opposition 22. Goo retention saw Wigton creep closer and closer to the tryline and it was flanker Richard Jackson who was able to claim a close range try. Full back Josh Leeson added a well struck conversion to tie up the scores at 7-7.

Wigton had plenty of chances to add to the score but a degree of imprecision in handling meant that the most was not made of this pressure. No 8 James Wilson won a penalty as Bennies were caught holding on to the ball at the back of a scrum. Centre Stephen Harris made a threatening run to take the ball near the line but somehow the ball went lose and the defenders were able to clear their lines. Other good positions were lost when a penalty was kicked into touch in goal and a scrum was somehow lost near the tryline.

In the last few minutes of the half Wigton had to put their shoulders to the defensive wheel. Scrum half Pirie made a break for Bennies and tried to chip the ball over the head of Leeson. Leeson obstructed him and was duly shown the yellow card. From a close lineout Pirie tried to burrow over the Wigton line but was held up. From the resulting five metre scrum Wigton snaffled a loose ball and cleared to twenty yards out. This time good defence drew a handling error from St Benedicts and Wigton cleared their lines.

It was not long before a penalty in midfield enabled to Wigton to enter the Bennies 22. Another penalty followed and Wigton set up a maul around second row Robert Marrs. A concerted drive resulted in try for Wilson which was confidently converted by scrum half Sam Harrison. This gave Wigton a 14-7 halftime lead.

The second half started with a controversial incident which had a major earring on the outcome of the match. As Fisher kicked he was late tackled by Wigton winger Oliver Lewis. There was no doubt that this was a late tackle but it was not dangerous: it was made round the midriff with both arms fully wrapping. Some of the St Benedicts players reacted robustly. Wigton would have had no complaints had referee Alister Jones shown a yellow card but the red card he flourished seemed rather harsh for the offence. Wood kicked the penalty dead in goal giving Wigton a chance to relieve the pressure. Unfortunately from the subsequent 22 metre drop out, the referee adjudged Wigton to have runners in front of the kicker and Bennies were awarded a scrum.

Wigton conceded another defensive penalty from the subsequent play and to make matters worse Jackson was yellow carded. With Wigton down to 13 men Bennies opted for a scrum and executed a standard blindside attack with No 8 Gary Gibbons picking up, running and then passing to Pirie who ran through the short handed defence to score. Wood was unable to convert but the lead was now trimmed to 14-12.

Wigton had a chance to widen the gap but Leeson was just off target with a longish penalty kick. That was followed by another in a similar position and the ball was planted in the Bennies 22. Bennies won the ball on Wigton’s throw but a poor clearance enabled Wigton to run back not the 22. Following good approach work by Wilson, the move was finished off by Marrs, lurking somewhat incongruously on the right wing. He battered his way through a number of normal sized backs to score a vital try. It was inconverted but Wigton held a 19-19 lead.

It was now St Benedicts turn to come more and more into the game as they sought to make use of their manpower advantage against a tiring defence. To make matters worse, Wigton seemed more and more to be incurring the displeasure of the referee. Determined tackling defused a number of dangerous situations but finally, following another penalty Bennies had a lineout on the five metre line. A catch and drive produced a try for the forwards and Wood’s well struck conversion tied the scores up at 19-19.

Wigton tried desperately to go on the offensive. One lineout maul made a lot of ground before it seemed to be pulled down but no penalty was forthcoming. In the frantic last minutes Wigton seemed to lose composure and knock ons and misdirected passes frustrated their efforts.

Bennies got their noses in front with a penalty from Wood making the score 19-22.
Wigton tried desperately to conjure up a match winning score but poor handling gave Bennies a scrum from which they kicked the ball out of play as time ran out, meaning Wigton had to settle for a losing point.