On a cold, wet and windy day Wigan welcomed Leigh RUFC U14s to the Valley for the quarter final match of the Lancashire Cup. Leigh have had some good wins in their group and promised to be tough opposition demanding a good display from the home side.

The game started off tight as both teams defences proved strong and time was needed to adapt to the conditions. Wigan adapted quickest and recycled the ball well. A penalty for a high tackle followed by a quick run allowed Sam C to burst through for the first try, neatly converted by Joss to give Wigan a 7-0 lead after 9 minutes.
Wigan kept up the pressure and a couple of minutes later Joss squeezed through for a try of his own close to the posts which he converted for a 14-0 lead.
Wigan knocked on from the restart but managed to regain possession with a great scrum win against the head. Both sides did remarkably well in the conditions and the handling skills were exemplary and neither side were afraid to pass the ball in an attempt to gain ground. Both defences were strong but in the end Leigh were found wanting again as Kieran R strongly ran in the third try down the right wing after a couple of missed tackles by Leigh. This time the try went unconverted and the score now 19-0.
Leigh continued to ask questions of the home side defence and despite a couple of line breaks Wigan were able to scramble accross to cover.
Half time 19-0
The second half started with a knock on by Leigh from the Wigan kick off. Wigan pressurised the Leigh line for a while and after three minutes Wigan were awarded a penalty for a high tackle, Ben wisely opted for the three points and Joss duly obliged to take the scoreline to 22-0 . The cold and the rain now started to take its toll on the match and understandably more errors started to creep into the game, but the underlying skills of all the players was still very evident, and the spectators were enthralled.
More pressure from the home side saw a good move up the right side into what was now an area of standing water and fumbling the ball near to the line allowing Leigh to relieve the pressure.
Leigh too had their moments showing good back moves and one run at Wigan's left wing, broke through but again being stopped short by a scrambling defence, and a good kick to relieve the pressure.
All Wigan's players put in a great performance, each giving 100% and the teamwork was great. This showed as they were constantly able to make ground and keep Leigh on the back foot. At a scrum on Leigh's 25 Joss was clattered by their scrum half who was well offside, a penalty and a quick drive to the line by Sam P was stopped by a high tackle. The team battled on and finally another breakthrough came to Tom who burst through for the final unconverted try to make the FINAL SCORE 27-0.
I've not named as many individuals in this report as I would do normally as the weather made taking notes difficult, but every player did their part and can be rightly proud of their individual and team performances. Leigh were tough opposition and to win is great but to stop them scoring was tough and extremely satisfying.

WELL DONE LADS

Debut: Justin, M.O.M. - Jacob, Sausage Award - Joss for box kick that went backards ;)

Team Isaac, Justin, Kieran R, Tap, Ben(c), Samson, Sam C, Joss, Sam P, Kieran F, Billy, James, Xander, Ethan, Toby, Max, Louis, Sam L, Jacob, Joe & Tom