U14’s vs Preston Grasshoppers RUFC (h)

Wigan’s 4th match in this years Blacksticks Blue Lancashire Cup saw Grasshoppers welcomed to the Valley.
Another beautiful sunny crisp morning, a great day for rugby and the home side raring to go.

The home side showed they were up for this right fighting for possession and using it well to apply pressure on the Grasshoppers. Good ball turnover and slick hands through the backs saw Kieron burst over for the first try after just 5 minutes which was well converted by Joss.
Wigan continued in this style after the restart, hustling the opposition whenever they had the ball and stretching their back line on the attack. After three consecutive scrums in the attacking quarter another fine handling movement landed just short of the line running out of space on the wing. The resultant line out was won the ball shifted swiftly out the line and Kieron scored again, slotted over by Joss to take the score to 14-0 after 16 minutes.
The rest of the first half continued in this mould, The scrum was tight Jacob, Sam P, Ethan, Xander, Toby, Tom, Ben and Max scrumaged well against an equal pack with some mercurial footwork from Sam nipping the odd one against the head.
A Grasshoppers knock on in their quarter gave our scrum opportunity to apply more pressure, a pick up and run tied up their half backs with a maul and ruck, the subsequent quick ball saw Wigan exploit their numerical advantage on the right hand side for Samson following a selfless pass from Joe. Joss unable to convert this time and Wigan went into half tie with a well deserved 19-0 lead.

Much to the home team’s credit the second half started with the same urgency and determination as the first. They worked the ball down the pitch through forwards and backs to earn a lineout just short of Preston’s line. A clean take a distribution through Joss, Sam C, Kieron, Logan, Joe and Billy all getting involved to send Samson over in the corner, just unable to be converted.
With Louis and Tap now on the field the next try for Wigan came from further out, a move to the right wing saw Samson being shepherded toward touch but a clever inside Kick and chase by the rest of the backs saw the opposition full back panic and Sam C nip in to get the try more or less under the posts. No problem for Joss and Wigan in a commanding 31-0 lead.
A slight lapse in concentration allowed a scrappy try to Preston after a drive up the pitch and bundling the ball over the line. 31-5
Wigan then turned this around and pressed again, Tap just running out of space and a couple of unfortunate drops.

Final Score 31-5

Another good display from the Wigan boys and great to reach the Christmas break undefeated. Enjoy Christmas all and look forward to the New Year and upping our game again.

Team – Jacob, Sam P, Ethan, Xander, Toby, Tom, Ben, Max, Joss, Sam C, Kieron, Logan, Joe, Samson, Billy, Tap, Louis