12 Tries to start the New Year!

Egremont, struggling in the wrong end of the table, were swamped by a twelve try performance by the unbeaten league leaders.

Wigton showed little sign of rustiness in their performance and were able to welcome back a few absentees through injury. Richard Moffatt returned to form an impressive centre partnership with Will Miller, whilst Fergus Ledingham resumed his regular scrum half slot with enthusiasm. Lindsay Walker and Andrew Brown got back to action with a spot on the bench where they were joined by Ollie Lewis. Scott Smith got his first start of the season on the wing.

There is genuine competition for starting places in the Wigton team and everyone was eager to please the coaching team. A most encouraging aspect for the coaches was the absence of White Line Fever as the scores rattled up. Players unselfishly looked to release runners in better positions and support for the ball carrier was tireless throughout. Wigton took their try total to 109 with four for Captain Atkinson whose 21 for the season see him joint top try scorer in all leagues nationally.

It was obvious from the start that Wigton's strong running forwards were going to be a handful for the home defence. Mark Deans opened the account with a typical rumbustious charge from ten yards out after good continuity with phases play had taken Wigton forward. Gregg Smith added the conversion, but the blustery wind was a challenge and restricted him to four successful conversions.

Five minutes later, slick handling from Hanabury and Miller released Atkinson in a wide channel where his pace and size can be so threatening and he surged to the line. The consistent John Story added the third as he carried two defenders over the line with him. The run up to this try saw phases of play move well into double figures.

At this point, after half an hour, Egremont were still in the game at 17-0. Their scrum was steady and good field kicking from Liam Nicholls was giving them decent field position. Smart play by scrum half Andrew Branthwaite took play into the Wigton 22 and a pacy break by Graham Temple caught the defence napping and he crossed for a good try.

Egremont took great heart from this and shortly afterwards an interception on halfway looked odd on to reduce the gap again. However, Wigton's winger Jordan Wood showed pace and great enthusiasm to pull off a try saving tackle three yards short of the line.

A few minutes later, it was Wigton who extended their lead with David Hanabury scoring. As the home defence kept their eyes on Wigton's ball carrying forwards, Hanabury was able to spot a gap and dummy his way through the defensive line,scoring from twenty yards out. This made the score at half time 5-22.

The second half saw a rampant Wigton score 46 points without reply, showing the form that has troubled all the sides in this league. First Atkinson scored his second from a familiar driven maul. It was out to the backs again for the next as Gregg Smith started a counter attack, supported by the ubiquitous Lee and the young tyro Lewis. Big brother Scott Smith was released to score. Three minutes later he scored again from a smart move down the blind side in which Atkinson, Ledingham and Brown all played a part.

The next try was created by a line break from Miller. Hanabury was backing up and he passed on to Lee who outstripped the defence to score. The next try was a typical galloping run from Atkinson.

With a quarter of the match left, Egremont had some respite when a fumbled restart gifted them possession. They launched a series of determined powerful drives towards the Wigton line, but Brown came up with a key turnover from which a length of the field counter attack was launched. Skipper Atkinson was on hand in support to score his fourth of the day.

Egremont were now exhausted and could not react when Lee tapped a penalty ten yards out and scored under the sticks. Nicholls tried to inspire one last attack for his side, but a strong tackle by Moffatt knocked the ball loose and the eager Wood snapped it up and raced fifty yards to complete the scoring.

The travelling supporters voted Wood and Ledingham as joint Men of the Match, but Wigton had contenders for that throughout the team. Next week Keswick will be making a visit to Lowmoor road.