Great Performance Ends in Victory for the Greens

This dominant performance had followed disappointment on the road last week, which the Wigton supporters are getting used to.

The squad showed changes from last week with lead forwards Ewan Dowes , Peter Dobson and Skipper Andy Brown not available. Such is the strength in depth available that they were replaced by John Story , Mark Deans , Robert Marrs and Mark Lee . Cumbria full back Gregg Smith also returned at full back following a hamstring strain , with the improving Ryan Clark returning to the Wanderers XV .

Coach Malcolm Brown said: “A win over LSH should be celebrated as they have been runners-up in the League for the last two years and this was Wigton’s first ever win over them in league rugby. "

“In fact on their last visit to Lowmoor Road in November 2011 they won comfortably 44-24."

The visitors brought with them their President in the shape of the dual code international broadcasting legend, Ray French and although enjoying the Wigton hospitality wasn’t over enthused by his side’s efforts on the field.

Things looked ominous for the visitors from their first scrum, which was comprehensively dismantled by the Wigton eight and they immediately went close only for Tom Gardner to be brought back for an earlier foot in touch. In fact the improved play of the greens front five was to set the tone for the game as they set about dominating the LSH scrum. It is over two seasons since the 'engine room' of Marrs and Matt Atkinson had started together and the formidable 'duo' confirmed their potential; hookers Rich Jackson and Steve Carruthers were the main benefactors taking five against the head.

The first try was not long in coming though after number eight Mark Lee picked up from a scrum and linked with Gardner who headed in field at an angle, carrying strongly into the LSH 22. As he drew the last defender, he passed inside to the supporting David Hanabury and the fly half scored.

Wigton's next chance came from a quickly tapped penalty. Centre Richard Moffat made a break, but with the defence looking stretched, his pass to support was intercepted, defusing the situation.

Then the visitors' defence did well to win a turnover with a smart steal, but the clearance kick found Gardner forty yards out. He carried the ball up strongly and quick possession was secured and passed right to Gregg Smith. The full-back ran elusively, pulling defenders to him before passing to Jordan Wood, who had come over from the opposite wing, to score Wigton's second try, which like the first was unconverted.

LSH had their chances to attack, but were undone firstly by imprecise passing which robbed the move of momentum, and secondly by a speculative kick which ran dead. However, they were able to build a bit of pressure when Wigton were penalised for holding on.

A kick gave the Merseysiders a lineout about a dozen metres out. A catch and drive took them closer, but when it was held and they tried to pass the ball out wider, quick line speed from the Wigton defence meant they started to fall behind the gain line and were finally penalised for holding on.

The visitors' day got worse when flanker Sam Molyneux was shown the yellow card by referee Ben Blain for breaking his scrum bind early in order to tackle the dangerous Gardner.

Liverpool St. Helens most dangerous attack so far actually led to Wigton’s third try just before he break.

The speedy winger Jake Hodson came between his centres to make a midfield break. He got behind the defence but when he was tackled by the covering Gardner just inside Wigton's 22, the ball fell loose.

Wigton kept cool heads as the experienced Lee gathered the ball and sent it left to Hanabury. He had defenders in a dither, not knowing whether to close in on him or mark his support. He timed to perfection his little pass to Wood, who scampered towards the line, holding off the despairing Hodson and completing a 50 metre gain.

Events within a couple of minutes of the restart killed off any realistic chance the visitors had of taking any points from the game.

They were on the attack, driving a maul into the Wigton 22, only for home lock Robert Marrs, who was getting through plenty of work on his return to action, to rip the ball out and set off on an impressive carry up field. It was sent spinning wide to Will Miller who made about sixty yards up field before passing outside to Wood. He slipped it back inside to Ledingham who passed out of the tackle to Lee for the fourth try and a bonus point. Hanabury tacked on the extras for a 22-0 lead.

This try showed Wigton's counter attacking ability at its best with strong running, accurate passing and great support play, all initiated by a bit of forward muscle. Changes to the green line up saw John Story replaced by Steven Carruthers and scrum half Fergus Ledingham limped off to be replaced by Jonny Charters . Jordan Wood stepped up and impressed at half back where his pace is always a threat.

Wigton were on the attack again when LSH were shown a second yellow card for second row Mark Potter making no effort to get back ten yards from a quick tap before tackling.

From that position, Wigton set up a driving maul which never looked like failing to make the line. Second row Matthew Atkinson, captain for the day, came up with the ball for the try , demonstrating that at full strength the pack are a force to be reckoned with; Hanabury again converted.

Trailing 29-0 LSH looked like they were in for a torrid last fifteen minutes. To their credit, things did not pan out like that. Fly half Ian Stanley tried to galvanise his team for a determined last effort, as the darkness gathered, casting gloom over proceedings.

A Wigton attack was terminated by a penalty for crossing, followed immediately by a yellow card for Hanabury, who was deemed to have made no attempt to retreat ten metres.

Then when Gardner ensured that Hodson would not score by the simple expedient of pulling him back without the ball he was shown the yellow card. So just as Potter returned to the field, Wigton found themselves down to thirteen men.

LSH took a tap and set up a ruck near the line. The scrum half drew the defence wide and flipped a pass back inside for second row Danny Webster to crash over for an unconverted try.

Both sides now found the gloom a hindrance to their attacking cohesion as passes went astray but it did not prevent Johnny Charters from putting over a 42 metre penalty, which proved to be the best kick of the day.

With lots of improved performances the sponsors, a Local Farmers Support Group, had a short list of Mark Lee, hooker Richard Jackson and winger Tom Gardner for man of the match. In the end the impressive Gardner got the nod, a player currently producing some of the best rugby of his career.

So league rugby for 2013 will draw to a close with a trip to take on an improving Broughton Park side; will this be the week that see's some impressive home form replicated on the road and the persistence of the growing number of away supporters be rewarded ?