Wigan RUFC U14's Welcome Hawcoat's RUFC

20th November 2016 U14’s vs Hawcoat Park RUFC

Today’s match was due to be against Leigh. They cried off due to their pitches being waterlogged and for some unfathomable reason wouldn’t accept the offer of a match at Douglas Valley.

Hawcoat Park RUFC U14’s to the rescue, thanks to them and a last minute offer to drive from Barrow in Furness to fill the fixture. Kudos and gratitude to them. A chance to play a team from out of our normal region is most welcome, and thanks for making the journey despite transport problems which slightly delayed kick off.

Hawcoat kicked off and Wigan seemed to have cold hands as the ball went to ground a couple of times, however they soon got into the swing of the game and any nerve settle after 4 minutes when a good move through the forwards saw Sam P go over.
The forwards got well into the opposition and good recycling of the ball gave opportunities for the backs to spread the ball and using the full width of the pitch Billy ended a fine move in the corner. A good try matched by a fine conversion from Joss from close to the touch line.
The next try followed soon after with good fast team play working their way up the pitch followed by an excellent bulldozing run by Ethan leaving Joss a slightly simpler conversion to take the lead to 19 after only 10 minutes.
In the ascendancy now a try of individual excellence followed from shortly after the kick off when Samson backed himself and ran three quarters the length of the pitch combined with a lovely step to cut in and plant the ball under the sticks, allowing Joss to add the extras.
The Wigan team were now really working well together and dominating the game, The front row, Tim, Sam P & Ethan dominated & won most of the ball great work from the pack with great driving runs from Xander, Tom, Max and tying up their forwards and the half backs Joss and Sam P really worked well and their reading of the game and distribution often leaving the other backs with overlaps to exploit. The next try came from a penalty that Joss kicked into touch at the corner. The resulting lineout win enabled the ball to Billy who scored near the blind side touch. One more try followed for Billy whose speed found Hawcoat wanting and he completed his hatrick after twenty minutes.
The first half was rounded off with a fine driving try through the defence from Tom well converted by Joss to take the half time total to 43.
Hawcoat used the time to regroup, the first half display from the home side maybe a bit of a shock to them.
The start to the second half did see the opposition rejuvenated and for 10 minutes the match was even again. Hawcoats pressure forcing a few errors form the home team and a fairly disjointed period of play ensued. Wigan slowly started to wear away at the opposition with great runs from Ben, Isaac and Jacob. The next try and after numerous phases of great forward work, drives from Tim, Max & Ethan finally releasing the backs for another for Billy, this time converted by Sam C.
More great support play through the team saw the team advance up the pitch for an excellent try by Xander, converted again by Joss.
No let up of pressure by the Wigan side now, great hands through the backs, cutting runs by Tap and Cap’n Ben. One such move saw Logan being herded toward the touch line only to supply a superbly weighted kick forward which then resulted in a race for the line between Logan and Sam C. Logan won, just.
Another kick and chase for the next try, this time Billy picking up and getting his fifth try of the game, he then converted it for good measure.
Wigan’s final try just reward for a great overall days play by Max who powered over to take the final score to 74-0.
With a few players unavailable today, we only turned out 15 players. Each and everyone contributed to a fine display of TEAM rugby! Well Done