Published at 11:23, Monday, 23 November 2009

Wigton consolidated their place at the top of the North Lancs Cumbria League with a 31-0 win at struggling Burnley.

All action: Wigton (green strip) were one of the few clubs to play and are pictured above against Burnley

RUGBY UNION MATCH OF THE DAY

As one of only two games played in the section, the Lowmoor Road side were able to extend their lead over second-placed Kirkby Lonsdale to three points.

Originally it should have been a free Saturday, so a number of Wigton players had made other arrangements, which meant seven regulars were unavailable.

David Warwick, Tom Gardner, Tane Manihera, David Waning, Steve Carruthers, Sean Stephens and John Story were all absentees so Andrew Logue, Chris Pattinson, Kofi Barnes, David Thompson, Steve Green, Russell McLean and Paul Vickers came in.

The conditions were atrocious, driving rain and gale-force winds – the worst Wigton had experienced this season, yet the pitch stood up to it well.

Burnley went bottom, below Netherhall, with this result but for the first 25 minutes they competed well and made a contest of it. They proved very resilient and dogged in defence.

The opening try came on 25 minutes when the Wigton backs moved the ball smartly along the line for Andrew Logue to score in the corner. John Wright converted from the touchline.

Young Vickers, the Colts scrum-half from last season, was always prominent for Wigton and showed his potential with some lively, probing play and excellent field kicking.

It was Vickers who created the second try with a clever off-load to put Calum Studholme in for an unconverted try.

There should have been more points for Wigton by half-time but when David Hanabury made a great break the supporting Wright dropped the pass with the line at his mercy. Then it was Hanabury who put down a pass when a scoring chance beckoned, but the greasy ball was often dropped throughout the game.

Wigton expected to find it hard in the second half when they played against the element but they coped well, with the forwards putting in a particularly strong stint.

The Greens had to make a change after 55 minutes when James Brough suffered an ankle injury and was replaced by Andy Brown, who quickly made his presence felt by earning two turnovers.

On 58 minutes they scored again when the lively Vickers off-loaded well again to send the marauding Mark Deans galloping over from 20 yards. Wright converted.

Deans was a strong contender for the man of the match award but was just pipped in the end by fellow forward skipper Matthew Atkinson.

Burnley had their best ten minute spell of the game from the hour mark but couldn’t breach a very compact Wigton defence.

Thje Cumbrians brought-on McLean for his senior debut, replacing the hard-working Deans, and on 71 minutes they scored again.

Hanabury and Vickers linked well and Chris Pattinson provided an excellent pass for Brown, backing-up well, to race 30 metres for a try which Wright converted.

A minute from time Wright completed the scoring for Wigton with an unconverted try, again following good work by Vickers.

In the closing quarter of the game Wigton had nine players under the age of 21 on the pitch and four of them were members of last season’s Under-18’s squad.

Assistant coach Nigel Beaty said: “It was important to keep our run going and we had the chance to put a put of clear water between ourselves and the nearest challengers.

“Burnley made it hard for us early on but we adapted well and were worthy winners.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk