Wigton continue return to life in North Lancs Cumbria with draw at leaders Fleetwood

Their hosts had beaten four Cumbian clubs in a 100 per cent start to the season but dropped points for the first time against a gritty Wigton side.

Possession was even early on when Wigton had first use of the breeze and good field kicking from David Hanabury and Gregg Smith saw them dominate territory.

Good phase play saw an overlap created and winger Arron Henderson squeezed in at the corner after 20 minutes for the first try, which Smith converted.

Soon afterwards, Smith extended the lead with a 35-metre penalty and Wigton were looking to push on and extend that lead before the change round.

But, on 39 minutes, they were hit by an 80-metre counter attack, which saw Fleetwood snatch a converted try and turn round only three points in arrears.

Fleetwood soon gained control of territory in the second period but a strong defensive stint kept them out.

When it was Wigton’s turn to apply pressure, they were able to extend their lead to 17-7.

Following a strong scrummage, Smith attacked the short side and a subtle pass gave Owen Bonney the opportunity to cross in the right corner. Smith again made an excellent conversion.

Almost immediately, Fleetwood countered and Scott Richardson, their man-of-the-match, was instrumental in developing a number of forays into Wigton’s red zone.

The pressure eventually told as left winger Kriss Phillips scored out wide and Richardson converted to set up a tense finale.

Both kickers missed penalty opportunities from midfield as the pressure mounted and Wigton were unable to convert a good field position into points.

With time running out, Fleetwood established themselves in Wigton territory and were awarded a 30-metre penalty, which Richardson was not going to miss for the game to finish all square.

Aspatria grabbed ten tries to demolish promotion rivals Oldham 72-12 and record an impressive, fourth win on the bounce to climb into third place.

The home side took early opportunities inside eight minutes to nose ahead through two penalties by Jack Clegg.

On 19 minutes, a maul made big inroads for Aspatria and Mark Beverley broke off the side to plunge over the line. Clegg kicked the first of his seven conversions.

Oldham continued to have their moments of possession but the game was now being played almost exclusively in their half.

From a disrupted Oldham scrum on 28 minutes, Aspatria scored their second try.

With the ball regained, the backs took over and Scott Akehurst whirled and twirled his way to the line.

Aspatria controlled the ball from the kick-off and recycled to the right flank.

Clegg took the ball forward and then dismembered the defensive line with a clinical chip kick that was anticipated by winger Scott Rooke. He took the ball and galloped under the posts.

Matthew Atkinson secured the bonus point try with a storming run from around 15 metres that proved unstoppable.

There was no respite as, three minutes later, back rower Jono Burnyeat clung on to a Clegg pass that put him in the clear to sail under the posts for a 41-0 lead at half-time.

The Aspatria rampage continued unabated after the break.

Within a few seconds of the restart, they won back the ball and the forwards steamed towards the posts where back row Phil Dixon was barged over.

The score line spurred Oldham into action and they picked themselves up and, for the first time since the early exchanges, put Aspatria under pressure.

But, when they lost possession on the Aspatria 22, Rooke collected the ball and took it the length of the pitch with a mazy run that finished in the right corner. Clegg converted off the touchline.

Aspatria were now playing some sublime rugby and even managed to up the tempo further.

Oldham had no answer and next over the line on 55 minutes was centre, Dan Rooney who took advantage of another lung busting surge upfield from Atkinson.

Oldham finally got on the scoreboard on 61 minutes when they replicated Aspatria’s catch and drive tactics to set up a maul that went over in the corner.

Into the last quarter and Aspatria’s concentration appeared to lapse but a smart piece of work by back rower Dixon to steal possession from a scrum 10 metres out saw him dot down in the corner.

With ten minutes remaining, Oldham scored a second try following a phase of impressive ball handling but Aspatria would, deservedly, have the last word.

With the defenders nearly out on their feet, Rooke used his pace to round the defence and complete his hat-trick.

Bolton, who had been hammered at Carlisle last week, took it out on Silloth when they bounced back with a 73-0 win.

Carlisle knew they had a battle on their hands when they went to play De La Salle in Salford and they lost for the second time, 29-21.

It was hard going for the youngsters in the Carlisle side, but will have been valuable experience for them after starting the campaign on a steep learning curve.

De La Salle are physical but they are also well organised defensively and have some sharp, talented backs.

Twice they were reduced to 14 men through yellow cards and, although Carlisle did score on one of those occasions, generally they found their hosts solid and committed in defence.

Ben Purdham, Rory Parish and a penalty try accounted for the Carlisle points as Jason Israel converted all three.