Douglas Valley Fortress

With an eye on next weekends game against Warrington, coach Hulme welcomed Rochdale (the only team to have beaten Wigan) in the absence of Ormskirk who cancelled. Previous games had not really challenged Wigan and the lads were keen to prove there ability and they did just that......

Playing slightly up hill and with the wind against them, Wigan kicked off and applied pressure forcing an early error from the visitors. First scrum to Wigan and the lads slowly moved up field completing phase after phase using good communication and drive. Joss Parker getting to every ruck and swiftly moving the ball which enabled Kieran Rennox to score his first try and converted by Joss P.

Wigan new the Rochdale threat and sure enough gave too much room for their full back to come into the line and run 60yards to score under the sticks. Dominating possession and playing most of the rugby, Wigan continued to press in the Rochdale half with strong runs from Toby Brannan and Tom Seabrook, slick hands from Sam Carleton who drew in defenders to find Louis Marsh who raced for the line but was tackled short by the ever present RFB (Rochdale Full Back). Same old, same old and Wigan found themselves defending with a slow defensive line allowing the RFB to attack with a carbon copy try.

Again Wigan do the hard yards finding Captain Ben Gill and Sam Parker charging up the middle of the field, forwards Max McQuhae, Xander Rundle and Jacob Weall doing the donkey work to recycle the ball. Unfortunately, the visitors are given one opportunity and the RFB runs in for his hat trick. At this point, you could easily say that the Wigan lads standing behind the sticks had seen it all before and were ready to give up but this couldn't be further from the truth.

Constructive words of encouragement from player to player and a battle cry from General Sam Parker saw Wigan line up for the re start. Once again Joss Parker working the ruck and freeing the ball to allow fast hands across the line. After a great run, Toby Brannan was able to free the ball for Kieran Rennox to draw in the Rochdale defence putting James Moran in space to sprint 30yards up the try line, scoring in the corner.

Confidence riding high, Wigan piled on the pressure, Ethan Hulme and Tom Seabrook charging down the field. Harry Walsh carrying the ball up well to allow the backs to surge forward, again the only thing between Wigan and the try line is the RFB. Pinned on their own line Jacob Weall finds Ethan Hulme who crosses the line. Joss Parker Converts... Re start and Wigans defence holds strong, Toby Brannan hitting hard and Max McQuhae with a fantastic take down on the RFB. Regaining possession from the scrum, the backs held on to give Sam Carleton just enough room to create a fantastic solo effort racing half the length of the field to touch down. Joss Parker Converts.

Same again from the kick off and Wigan press with open play, sub Tim Wilson coming on and straight away making good yards. Cutting out the threat, Wigan shift the ball from one side of the field to the other creating a broken Rochdale defensive line. Kieran Rennox running in for a second try with Joss Parker to convert. An almost certain try by the RFB is bundled into touch by Kieran Rennox late on in the game and with Rochdale heads down, Sam Carleton produces a final blow with a weaving run to seal the win.

MOM: Kieran Rennox

After the game a grinning Coach Phil Hulme praised the lads for a big "Team" performance and to carry this through to next weeks Warrington game.

Big thanks to Colin Moran (and his daughter), covering in the kitchen for his wife.

We hope for a speedy recovery to our Captain Ben Gill, who sadly left the field and was taken to hospital with a sprained ankle..... Thank you to Dr J Seabrook for looking after him.

Thank you to the parents for your voice and support, see you next week.