First League Victory for Greens

They scored four tries to register a five point 27-20 win over Leigh at home whilst being short of a few names in the pack largely due to a wedding.

The absentees included second row Robert Marrs who had got through so much work against Aspatria last week. Mark Lee continues to recover following an uneven contest between his thumb and a log splitter. Wigton were further disrupted by injuries early in the game to Richard Moffatt and then, Will Miller, two front line backs.

The Club had been shocked by the tragic death of former prop Russell Long this week. The game was preceded by a minute's silence and the team played in the Wanderers' shirts, sponsored by Russell, who will be missed by everyone who knew him.

As the game unfolded it became apparent that Leigh were placing their faith in their pack, attacking down fairly narrow channels. However, especially in the first half, Wigton were swift to counter attack from knock ons and turnovers. The first points came when Fergus Ledingham snapped up a knock on, creating an attacking opportunity. The move broke down, but Leigh were caught offside in numbers, enabling Gregg Smith, operating at centre, to kick a penalty for a 3-0 lead.

A similar incident shortly afterwards saw Leigh knock on and this time a kick over the top had the defence panicking. Wigton looked odds on to score but winger Jordan Wood was unable to ground the loose ball. However, Leigh could only clear the ball a few yards from the line. Wigton were still on the attack and referee Ben Blain played advantage for a high tackle on full back Callum Studholme. As the ball was recycled, Smith straightened the attack and from the next possession scrum half Ledingham probed the fringes, creating the gap with a marvellous off load. This resulted in an overlap and the ball just had to be passed along the line for hooker Steven Carruthers to score the try. Smith added the extras, giving the home team a 10-0 lead.

The next also came when Leigh turned over the ball. Wigton zipped the ball left, with big winger Tom Gardner producing some smart handling to keep the move alive. Fly half David Hanabury swept up the touchline before releasing Wood who outpaced the chasing defenders to score under the posts. The simple conversion was charged down by Leigh, but Wigton were looking dangerous at 15-0.

Another gilt-edged chance soon came following splendid work by second row Euan Shand, who won the ball in the tackle. Another quick handling movement from the backs took play up into the visitors' 22. Wigton had the line at their mercy, but Matthew Atkinson's pass to Gardner was too low for the big man to gather and score.

The next significant moment saw Atkinson being shown a yellow card for a rucking offence . Leigh took full advantage, launching a series of attacks in the Wigton 22. Wigton scrambled the ball into touch but Leigh, with that part of their game working particularly well, used the lineout as a launch pad for the next attack. Wigton held out against a series of close drives, but eventually, when the ball was moved wide, the fourteen man defence
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was outflanked and winger Adam Dyson opened the visitors' account with a simple try. Full back Elliot Ryan was unable to convert.

Now back to fifteen men, Wigton began to be rather more prodigal with the ball coming their way, with a few ill-judged kicks failing to create anything. Indeed, possession was beginning to be something of a problem for Wigton, for, whilst their scrum lasted the course well, exerting good pressure by the end, the lineout possession dried up as Leigh time and again got jumpers up to pressure the throw.

Nevertheless, Wigton should have put away another chance just before half time when flanker Stuart Creighton pilfered the ball at a breakdown. Hanabury and Studholme led the charge into the Leigh 22, but the attackers seemed to lose track of each other and the defence got back. Wigton had to be content with a penalty as the defence killed the ball. Smith pushed his kick wide, but Leigh almost imploded by opting to pick up and run with the loose ball rather than touching it down. They were relieved to hear the half time whistle.

Wigton widened the gap with their first possession of the second half. Wigton kicked off and second-row-cum-centre Mark Deans stripped the ball from the catcher. Wigton moved the ball through hands looking for the gap. Hanabury changed the direction of play and Smith came up with an excellent piece of individual play, using splendid footwork to jink past several defenders for a try which he converted himself to make the score 22-5.

Leigh now hit back to dominate most of the rest of the half. Wigton seemed to settle back in defensive mode, lacking composure and precision when they had the ball. Leigh started to take advantage. They enjoyed long periods of play in the Wigton 22, with the lineouts going firmly their way. A penalty created a lineout opportunity a few metres from the home line. A catch and drive developed momentum which led to the pack powering over the line for a second try. Ryan's conversion produced a 22-12 score.

The gap was narrowed again when Wigton fumbled at the base of a scrum and were then penalised for falling over the ball. Ryan kicked the points, making it 22-15. Wigton had a chance to hit back, or at least take play into the Leigh 22, but loose passing blew the chance of an overlap. Wigton now had a number of walking wounded and with the two early injuries Coach Brown was not able to use his replacements as he would have liked. Shand had to leave the field and Miller, judged slightly less injured, bravely returned to the fray.

Another Leigh try came from another piece of lineout possession, but this time courtesy of a great piece of play by right winger Jahmene Allen. The impressively-physiqued Allen came off his wing and burst through the centre, evading a number of tackles to score. Ryan was unable to land the conversion from wide out, leaving the score 22-20.

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The force seemed to be with Leigh, but it was Wigton who clicked into gear again in the final minutes. Smith, impressive all afternoon, used an intelligent kick to push Wigton into the Leigh 22, from where they would find it difficult to score. Leigh tried to clear their lines but the ball ended up in the hands of Hanabury whose twinkling feet carried him through a broken defensive line, finally giving Atkinson an opportunity to score from 20 metres .Smith's conversion came back off the post, meaning that with a final score of 27-20, Leigh at least claimed one point.

Wigton looked very impressive with the ball in had on some occasions; on others they looked tentative. However, some adversity was overcome with early injuries disrupting the shape of the side. The defence was again impressive and the backs showed that they are capable of prospering in this league. Next week will see us hit the road as we visit Liverpool St Helens.