Week by week Carlisle tick the boxes needed to eventually earn first prize – the North Lancs Cumbria League title.

A second win over Wigton inside a fortnight, this time by 16-8, maintains a strong grip on top spot.

Although their overall lead was actually clipped by a point to ten, the games are starting to run out for erstwhile late challengers.

Those serious chasers are down to two now – De La Salle and Aspatria – as this defeat effectively ended fourth-placed Wigton’s hopes.

Conditions at Lowmoor Road were testing, which made this latest derby game difficult for both sides.

Once again there wasn’t a lot in it as 17-5 in the Cumbria Cup earlier in the month became 16-8 in the league.

It was never going to be a free-flowing game of rugby, full of sparkling handling moves from the backs as the conditions dictated events.

A stiff breeze blowing across the pitch might have been bad enough on its own but, allied to that, there were showers of soaking rain which also made handling difficult.

Carlisle made the best possible start in their quest for a third win of the season over the Greens.

From the kick-off they put Wigton under all sorts of pressure and, after a series of rucks in the 22 on the home side’s left, the ball was moved wide.

That allowed fly-half James Telford to put Josh Holmes in the clear for an easy touchdown.

Wigton, though, made their intentions clear by driving Carlisle back from the restart to keep them pinned in their own 22.

Unfortunately for Wigton, they had to reorganise after the game was delayed for some time.

In quick succession, the Greens lost Gregg Smith and Lindsay Walker to, what looked like, significant leg injuries.

This didn’t seem to put the home side off their stride though and they were able to level up.

As Carlisle seemed intent on playing themselves out of defence, number eight Stuart Creighton made a smart interception to catch hold of a Carlisle pass and crash over for Wigton’s first score.

The Greens’ injury woes kept on coming, though, when midway through the half, Jamie Warwick had to be helped off the field.

Again, this didn’t seem to disrupt them as their replacements were just as keen to keep Carlisle at bay.

However, Carlisle edged back into the lead when Telford landed a penalty opportunity in front of the posts, having just earlier missed one from out wide.

Carlisle, too, were committing a number of penalties and, after a high tackle by Matty Roper, he went to the bin and they were down to 14 men for the best part of what remained in the half.

Carlisle managed the deficiency well and defensively kept Wigton at bay until Roper came back on just as the half ended, with the visitors 8-5 to the good.

The scores were levelled up shortly into the second half, as Dan Reed kicked a penalty for Wigton from 30 metres.

Neither side seemed able to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Although Carlisle had scrum dominance, too often they were penalised for not controlling the scrum as it hurtled backwards at a rate of knots.

It was the hour mark before Carlisle got their noses in front from another Telford penalty as he slotted one from the 22 into the teeth of the wind.

Both sides had scoring opportunities but their respective defences were pretty resolute, with neither side really troubling the opposition try line.

But, on 66 minutes, Carlisle winger Ben Purdham broke the deadlock. He kicked a loose ball down the right touchline and managed to scoop it up and dive over for Carlisle’s second and which would prove to be the clinching score.

The league leaders were relieved to have survived this latest derby encounter on the winning side. The conditions made handling the ball very tricky and there were lots of unforced errors by both sides.

Carlisle will want to reflect on the high penalty count and the reasons for it, as they enjoy a two-week break before their next league game away to Littleborough on March 4.

The Littleborough side will be sure to make life difficult for Carlisle, as they attempt to close down opportunities for the chasing pack to catch the league leaders.

The same break awaits Wigton whose next assignment is also on March 4, at Bolton the team immediately below them in fifth, but five points adrift.