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Hoylake 19 - 43 Wigan
Daniel Morris1 Mar - 17:14
Butler serves up hat trick of tries in Wigan win
As the Warriors took flight to Vegas, Wigan Rugby Union had to made the most of a trip to Hoylake, in balmy spring sunshine. With Wigan clear at the top of the table and Hoylake struggling at the wrong end, the travelling support could be forgiven for thinking the result was a forgone conclusion.
The opening minutes looked good for the Douglas Valley side as Riley Dervan collected a loose ball in midfield. The ball was played out to Matt Cuthbert, on the wing, who drew his man and put Butler away down the right wing. Butler, with men inside him, dummied the pass and finished for the opening score. Zack Barker added the conversion.
Hoylake hit back almost immediately, having worked into good position they were awarded a penalty just 5 yards out. The ball was taken in close to the sticks before being swung out wide right for a counter punch score. With the conversion added it was 7 a piece after 10 minutes.
Hoylake showed their quality and gave Wigan great competition in the tight. It was in the loose that Wigan were able to show their class and it was Riley Dervan who capitalised on a broken defensive line to carve through the line and go over untouched from just inside the opposition half. Zack Barker added the conversion.
On the stroke of half time, George Lowe made a break down the right flank, leaving defenders in his wake. He drew his man in before putting Will Morgan through on the outside to canter in from 30 yards out for a 7-19 lead at the break.
The game restarted and descended into a scrappy affair as neither side could get a hold of the ball. George Lowe made the most of disorganisation from the home side and the back row made another break down the right flank. Lowe found Chris Carr on the inside, who made 30 yards before putting Morgan away to finish from 20 yards out and sealing the try scoring bonus point for the Wigan side.
With 20 minutes left to play, Wigan turned the screw. Having worked into good position Wigan were awarded a penalty deep in Hoylake territory. A quick tap was played along the back line, through the hands of Dervan and Matthews before Butler came onto the ball and finished in the corner.
It wasn’t long before Riley Dervan showed his strength and agility once again, breaking tackles and skipping through the defence on half way, leaving the scrambling Hoylake played bereft as he ran over for the score. Barker added the conversion. For a 7-36 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Hoylake were battered but not broken and certainly had a lot of fight left in them. Some good possession saw Hoylake work up the field before throwing the ball out wide for a converted score.
The game was now a slug fest as both sides exchanged scores. For Wigan, a scrum 5 metres out was played through hands until Nathan Butler hit the line from fullback and cut through the defence like a hot knife through butter. Barker added the conversion.
Hoylake got the last say, with a late consolation try in the left corner. With the conversion missed the game ended 14-43 and Wigan remain clear at the top of the table with 3 games to play. Wigan travel to Tyldesley next weekend for a mouthwatering ‘Battle of the Borough’, next Saturday the 8th March.
The opening minutes looked good for the Douglas Valley side as Riley Dervan collected a loose ball in midfield. The ball was played out to Matt Cuthbert, on the wing, who drew his man and put Butler away down the right wing. Butler, with men inside him, dummied the pass and finished for the opening score. Zack Barker added the conversion.
Hoylake hit back almost immediately, having worked into good position they were awarded a penalty just 5 yards out. The ball was taken in close to the sticks before being swung out wide right for a counter punch score. With the conversion added it was 7 a piece after 10 minutes.
Hoylake showed their quality and gave Wigan great competition in the tight. It was in the loose that Wigan were able to show their class and it was Riley Dervan who capitalised on a broken defensive line to carve through the line and go over untouched from just inside the opposition half. Zack Barker added the conversion.
On the stroke of half time, George Lowe made a break down the right flank, leaving defenders in his wake. He drew his man in before putting Will Morgan through on the outside to canter in from 30 yards out for a 7-19 lead at the break.
The game restarted and descended into a scrappy affair as neither side could get a hold of the ball. George Lowe made the most of disorganisation from the home side and the back row made another break down the right flank. Lowe found Chris Carr on the inside, who made 30 yards before putting Morgan away to finish from 20 yards out and sealing the try scoring bonus point for the Wigan side.
With 20 minutes left to play, Wigan turned the screw. Having worked into good position Wigan were awarded a penalty deep in Hoylake territory. A quick tap was played along the back line, through the hands of Dervan and Matthews before Butler came onto the ball and finished in the corner.
It wasn’t long before Riley Dervan showed his strength and agility once again, breaking tackles and skipping through the defence on half way, leaving the scrambling Hoylake played bereft as he ran over for the score. Barker added the conversion. For a 7-36 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Hoylake were battered but not broken and certainly had a lot of fight left in them. Some good possession saw Hoylake work up the field before throwing the ball out wide for a converted score.
The game was now a slug fest as both sides exchanged scores. For Wigan, a scrum 5 metres out was played through hands until Nathan Butler hit the line from fullback and cut through the defence like a hot knife through butter. Barker added the conversion.
Hoylake got the last say, with a late consolation try in the left corner. With the conversion missed the game ended 14-43 and Wigan remain clear at the top of the table with 3 games to play. Wigan travel to Tyldesley next weekend for a mouthwatering ‘Battle of the Borough’, next Saturday the 8th March.
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