Five Star Performance!

This was a win to match any of last season's victories and on this showing, Wigton will be confident against any team visiting Lowmoor Road.

Ironically, Wigton started the game with an error, failing to secure the kick off and fumbling it into touch for a Vale lineout. However, the Lancastrians took quite a while to get their lineout functioning. The returning Mark Lee, at no 8, was twice able to grab wayward throws. Wigton were calm in possession, patiently playing their way out of defence. From Vale's throw Lee gathered the lose ball and released fly half David Hanabury. He, at his elusive, mazy best, made a break carrying play into the visitors' 22 where they conceded a penalty. Full back Gregg Smith pushed his kick to the corner. Wigton made a quick catch and drive, resulting in a try for Lee and a 5-0 lead.

Wigton then proceeded to knock on the kick off, giving Vale their first decent bit of possession. They were looking to use their muscular centres, Higgin and Haigh, to open up the middle with the outside backs lurking to exploit any half breaks. Vale were able to move the ball and create a lineout foothold in the Wigton 22. However, once again their work at the line let them down and a free kick enabled Wigton to clear. At the ensuing line, Vale's second row Fraser Spavin tapped down the ball, but in such a way as to give his skipper, scrum half Darren Wilson, the Wigton back row at the same time, resulting in a penalty to Wigton.

The Greens continued with accurate passing and good continuity to take play deep into the Vale half, with Lee, Smith and Miller all being prominent. Another penalty a few yards out gave Wigton the chance to try and set up a driving maul. On this occasion they were tantalisingly short of the line when a little knock on gave Vale a scrum and a chance to clear the ball. However, touch was missed and Tom Gardner fielded the ball and passed to Smith. He checked inside and the move seemed to be heading into a cul-de-sac but quick hands gave Miller the ball. He made ground and then linked with his fellow centre Richard Moffatt who burst through into space and then passed to Jordan Wood, giving the winger a run to the line. He made no mistake,registering Wigton's second try. There was no conversion, but Wigton had a 10-0 lead. Even better was to come......

From the kick off Lee fielded the ball and made ground. Wigton moved the ball across the fringe of their 22, with the home supporters waiting for a clearance kick. However, Wigton's ball retention was to be excellent all day. The key break came from Hanabury who swept into the Vale half. There was more great work by Miller, resuming the move when it seemed as though Vale were about to turn the ball over. The ball was moved to the less crowded right side of the field. Lee pulled defenders to him and passed outside to Gardner. The big winger turned inside cutting against the grain of the covering defence. At the same time he conjured up a deft back of the hand back to Smith, leaving the full back an unopposed run to the line for a superb team try which he himself converted. So, after twenty five minutes Wigton had a 17-0 lead.

Vale, still to put together any meaningful phases of possession were next caught in front of the kicker at the restart. Smith made more ground from the scrum ball and when a knock on was produced in the Vale 22, there was a distinct sense of anticlimax, such was the anticipation Wigton's earlier play had aroused.

Vale, urged on by a strong and vocal contingent of travelling support, set out to show what they were capable of. Winger James Curran evaded his tackler and dangerously ran into the Wigton back field. However, a gilt-edged chance was blown when the potential scoring pass was ruled forward. Wigton were able to clear their lines, but prop Andrew Bell had to leave the fray with a cut to the head. The bleeding was persistent; he twice returned to the field, but each time had to make a fairly prompt departure.

A penalty gave Vale the chance to plant the ball into the corner. Their lineout finally functioned and a clinically executed catch and drive brought a try for hooker Phil Berry. Fly half Jack Turton converted, making the scoreline 17-7. Wigton tried to hit back, but frustratingly the ball was dropped in the opposition 22. However, skipper Andy Brown was getting under the skin of the visitors, and the flanker produced a couple of turnovers which kept Wigton in Vale territory. The first half ended with Smith's penalty effort falling just under the crossbar.

Vale were obviously given a good talking to in the interval, as they started the second half with some terrifically fluent rugby. Great handling and interplay swept the. Up the field to within reach of the Wigton line. The Greens held out, but at the expense of a penalty. Vale confidently opted for a scrum. Skipper Wilson initiated a blindside move, giving the ball to winger Nick Royle. He seemed well covered by the defenders, but the England sevens star used twinkling footwork to get over the line. There was no conversion but at 17-12 Vale seemed to have found their mojo and the momentum was with them.

However, Wigton showed that they too, could find another gear. Another turnover gave Smith the chance to use the breeze to find a great touch in the opposition 22. On this occasion Vale were able to clear, but there followed a period of spirited, feisty play in midfield. Referee Tyrone Castles was given the benefit of lots of advice from the vocal away supporters. Wigton's back row of Lee, Brown and Creighton were enjoying the contest. Vale had a chance to take play into Wigton's 22, but missed touch with a penalty.

Wigton kept possession through a few scrappy phases of play as the defences struggled to keep their shape. Hanabury stamped his class on proceedings by breaking clean through in midfield, setting off for the line. The home supporters rose to their feet as they were sure he had held off the closing defence to score. Mr Castles was less certain, awarding a scrum five to Wigton. More worrying for Wigton, Hanabury was forced to leave the field injured. The back division had to be reshaped with the ever willing John Story fitting in on the wing while Smith moved to the 10 slot. The subsequent scrum produced joy for Wigton. A solid front five resisted Vale's efforts to disrupt and the ball reached Smith who was able to jink his way over the line for his second try. His conversion rebounded off the post, but at 22-12 Wigton had a little more breathing space.

Vale continued to keep the ball in hand and the defenders were unable to relax for a minute. However, it was Vale who made the next crucial error when they were penalised for a dangerous tackle on the excellent Moffatt, who enjoyed a fine day in defence and attack. The penalty gave Wigton another lineout chance in the away team's 22. The attempt at a catch and drive seemed laboured, but the maul inched forward, moving in field. Wigton found enough momentum to keep going forward. As the defence became concerned, Wigton ran at the fringes. Good work by Brown and Creighton took them within sight of the line. One final offload to Deans enabled the second row to power over near the posts. Smith made no mistake with the conversion, moving Wigton to a 29-12 lead.

Vale, visibly rattled, nevertheless felt that they still had time to get something out of this match and they now threw everything into the attack. At times, Wigton, with the last fit players on the field, looked stretched in defence. However, stretching is not the same as cracking. Another Vale lineout ball missed its target and Lee and Brown used it as an opportunity to counter, with Miller carrying the ball forward. Smith opted to use the foot to push the ball up into the 22, just tantalisingly short of the line. The defence were uncertain and conceded a scrum five. Wigton kept possession in the 22, being patient and retaining the ball well. Every second they were in control ate into the time Vale had to rescue the game. Eventually the ball was passed to Gardner. He attracted defenders and then, amazingly repeated his backdoor pass of the first half to present Creighton with the simplest of run ins for Wigton's sixth try. At 34-12 the game was wrapped up.

The final minutes were the source of further frustration for Vale. First, for the second time in the day, they were caught in front of the kicker at the restart. Skipper Darren Wilson, a man who gives new meaning to the phrase "stocky scrum half", left the field injured. Now, when Vale were in possession, there seemed to be two defenders to every attacker as the likes of Atkinson and Deans queued up to stop attacks. It seemed as though the harder they tried, the worse it got.

Wigton were content to break up attacks and then kick long. Following one clearance, two Vale defenders collided whilst going for the ball. Wood and a third defender fell over contesting possession leaving Story the simple task of picking up the ball and scoring. However, the referee blew his whistle to penalise Wood for obstruction on the last defender. Vale winger James Curran was forced to leave the field with an injury from the collision.

When the final whistle blew, Vale looked very frustrated with life. The visiting supporters were as generous in their praise of Wigton after the game as they had been vocal in support of their own team during it.

Following such a good team performance, the hardest task of the day fell to the sponsoring Wigton supporters who had to choose the man of the match. From a short list of Smith, Moffatt and Lee, the award went to Lee. He had enjoyed a great game in his first home match of the season, his partnership with Ledingham at the base of the scrum working particularly well.

Next week Wilmslow come to visit. Coach Brown will be working hard in the week to avoid a sense of "after The Lord Mayor's show" following this super effort.