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Wigan 41 - 18 Aspull
Daniel Morris15 Nov - 15:46
Wigan take derby spoils in Lancs Trophy Semi-Final
The Semi Final of the Lancashire Trophy saw Wigan welcome Aspull to Douglas Valley, for a classic derby encounter.
Just 2 minutes into the game, Mason Fillingham picked up from the ruck, took the ball blind, drew his man before putting Nathan Butler away to finish in the corner.
Aspull were rocked by the early score and Wigan were in buoyant mood. Sam Carleton took on the ball in his own half, weaving inside and outside of flailing defenders before finding Logan Astley in space on his inside who finished under the sticks. Fillingham added the extras for a 12-0 lead after just 6 minutes.
Aspull regrouped and regathered their composure, forcing Wigan onto the back foot. Pressure at the breakdown caused Wigan to concede a penalty, which Aspull converted for an easy 3 points. The game settled now as the ebb and flow took the ball from end to end but neither side could make any further progress on the score board. It wasn’t until the half hour mark that Wigan’s defence was caught offside and Aspull added a further penalty to take the score to 12-6.
From the restart, Aspull fielded the ball and Nathan Butler, having chased the kick, made contact with the ball carrier and came away with the ball himself. Butler stepped his man and found acres of space in broken field and finished in the corner from 30 yards out.
Wigan piled on the pressure now and Aspull struggled to keep up with the pacy backline of the home side. Butler picked up a loose clearance on the left wing before popping the ball up to Sam Carleton. Carleton took advantage of the broken defensive line with a mazy run that saw him canter home from 40 yards out. Fillingham added the conversion.
With half time approaching, Will Morgan got in on the action. Taking the ball on from 60 yards out, he chipped his man and beat him for pace to the loose ball, which he hacked over the line and dived on the ball for an excellent solo effort and a 29-6 halftime lead.
The second half resumed in similar fashion. Carleton worked into tight space on the left touchline managed to make ground before flicking the ball inside to Harvey Halley. Halley made a 30 yard break before slowing his run and looking for support in the form of Butler who finished well in the corner for a 34-6 lead.
Aspull were down but were determined to take the fight to Wigan. Sustained pressure saw the Emu’s work the ball close before an outstretched arm put the ball down on the line for a score.
It wasn’t long before normal service was resumed. Logan Astley made a break down the right wing, getting a cross field kick away before he was hauled down. The Aspull fullback couldn’t make the ground and Luke Sutcliffe pounced to hack the ball on into the in goal area, before winning the footrace for the score. Carleton added the conversion for a 41-11 lead.
Aspull finished the game with a consolation score of their own. Working close to the Wigan line, the ball was stripped and fell loose into the in goal area. Aspull were first to react and dived on the ball. The conversion was the final act of the game as it finished 41-18 with the Douglas Valley side advancing to the final and a chance at silverware.
Just 2 minutes into the game, Mason Fillingham picked up from the ruck, took the ball blind, drew his man before putting Nathan Butler away to finish in the corner.
Aspull were rocked by the early score and Wigan were in buoyant mood. Sam Carleton took on the ball in his own half, weaving inside and outside of flailing defenders before finding Logan Astley in space on his inside who finished under the sticks. Fillingham added the extras for a 12-0 lead after just 6 minutes.
Aspull regrouped and regathered their composure, forcing Wigan onto the back foot. Pressure at the breakdown caused Wigan to concede a penalty, which Aspull converted for an easy 3 points. The game settled now as the ebb and flow took the ball from end to end but neither side could make any further progress on the score board. It wasn’t until the half hour mark that Wigan’s defence was caught offside and Aspull added a further penalty to take the score to 12-6.
From the restart, Aspull fielded the ball and Nathan Butler, having chased the kick, made contact with the ball carrier and came away with the ball himself. Butler stepped his man and found acres of space in broken field and finished in the corner from 30 yards out.
Wigan piled on the pressure now and Aspull struggled to keep up with the pacy backline of the home side. Butler picked up a loose clearance on the left wing before popping the ball up to Sam Carleton. Carleton took advantage of the broken defensive line with a mazy run that saw him canter home from 40 yards out. Fillingham added the conversion.
With half time approaching, Will Morgan got in on the action. Taking the ball on from 60 yards out, he chipped his man and beat him for pace to the loose ball, which he hacked over the line and dived on the ball for an excellent solo effort and a 29-6 halftime lead.
The second half resumed in similar fashion. Carleton worked into tight space on the left touchline managed to make ground before flicking the ball inside to Harvey Halley. Halley made a 30 yard break before slowing his run and looking for support in the form of Butler who finished well in the corner for a 34-6 lead.
Aspull were down but were determined to take the fight to Wigan. Sustained pressure saw the Emu’s work the ball close before an outstretched arm put the ball down on the line for a score.
It wasn’t long before normal service was resumed. Logan Astley made a break down the right wing, getting a cross field kick away before he was hauled down. The Aspull fullback couldn’t make the ground and Luke Sutcliffe pounced to hack the ball on into the in goal area, before winning the footrace for the score. Carleton added the conversion for a 41-11 lead.
Aspull finished the game with a consolation score of their own. Working close to the Wigan line, the ball was stripped and fell loose into the in goal area. Aspull were first to react and dived on the ball. The conversion was the final act of the game as it finished 41-18 with the Douglas Valley side advancing to the final and a chance at silverware.
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