Wigton inspired to beat promotion hopefuls De La Salle by club legends

It was watched by members of the famous side which had beaten Otley in the Pilkington Cup back in 1996.

The current Wigton team responded with their best half of rugby of the season, a terrific first 40 minutes which virtually wrapped up a bonus-point win by half time.

In the opening minutes, Wigton were soon on the attack with a line-out in the visitor’s 22. A catch-and-drive made good progress and a series of pick-and-goes by the pack edged Wigton closer to the line.

When the ball was released to the back line, skipper and fly-half David Hanabury threw a dummy to cross close to the posts. Full-back Gregg Smith converted for a 7-0 lead.

Wigton were soon on the attack with another line-out in the Della 22. This time the forwards mauled the ball well and prop Kevin Robinson managed to get free and then dive over for a second try which went unconverted.

The home side was now hitting top form. Their third try came when the Wigton pack took a scrum against the head.

The ball was moved right and scrum-half Fergus Ledingham put in a testing grubber which was regathered by Hanabury.

He made good ground and drew the last defender, passing inside to flanker Andy Brown who crossed unopposed. Smith converted.

De La Salle finally managed to get some ball and a couple of penalties gave them a line-out 20 yards out.

They showed good organisation and executed an excellent catch and drive, which propelled number eight Paul Berry over the line for a try. The conversion cut the lead to 19-7.

However, the rest of the half was pretty much one-way traffic as Wigton continued with their purple patch.

In fact, it could be argued, De La were lucky the half-time margin was not wider.

A handling error gave De La a scrum in midfield but good pressing defence by Wigton meant they lost ground, conceding a line-out to a rampant home team.

Good handling gave winger Ryan Clark a run for the line. He was tackled short but was penalised for a double movement.

Shortly afterwards, centre Richard Moffatt made a penetrating break.

He passed to Hanabury in support but the skipper lost the ball as he tried to wriggle through the last tackle on the line.

From the resulting scrum, De La made a poor clearance which Moffatt gratefully fielded just outside the 22.

He launched Wigton on the attack again. This time, the pack were able to fashion a maul a few yards out and, as they moved towards the whitewash, Stuart Creighton crashed over for a bonus point fourth try.

Hanabury made another terrific break, which looked as though it must produce another score but a supporting player was penalised for side entry at the ruck.

Any respite for the visitors was temporary.

Another penalty enabled Wigton to set up a line-out on the five-metre line.

A catch and drive was held up over the line, giving Wigton a scrum five.

First the forwards took the ball on and then it was moved wide with a beautifully timed Hanabury pass, putting Smith outside the defender for a try.

It was a half-time whistle which Wigton didn’t need as they were playing their best rugby of the season in building the 29-7 lead De La had been poor.

The second half was something of an anticlimax. De La upped their defensive game while Wigton struggled to find the form of the first half.

The action from both sides was scrappy and lacking in continuity.

For De La Salle, strapping winger Alexander Dixon provided their most threatening moments.

For Wigton, inside centre Matt Corrigan and subsequently, his replacement Brad Boucher, consistently got over the gain line.

Wigton extended their lead with two penalties from Smith. The referee grew dissatisfied with the discipline of both sides and showed three yellow cards in the half, two for the visitors and one for Wigton.

The only try came from a back move gone wrong. De La dropped the ball in midfield and Moffatt gratefully picked it up and galloped clear for Wigton’s sixth try. Smith converted.

The only further action of note was the issue of yellow cards to a pair of wrestling forwards followed immediately by the final whistle.

Despite the unsatisfactory second half, this was fine win by Wigton over a team with real ambitions and one which puts Wigton in striking distance of the promotion chasers.