A perfect day for a game of rugby saw the U14s travel to a welcoming Liverpool St Helens.
A lean turn out saw us only able to field 13 players and playing against 14 from LSH would demand a lot of effort.

Wigan got off to a good start with some good handling team play and driving up the centre. Wigan applied good pressure but LSH were able to repel this attack.
Wigan were awarded a penalty opted for touch and won the line out, the ball appeared to be shipping along the back line but a good deceptive move from Sam C saw him deliver a nice inside pass to Sam C who exploited the gap to break through for the opening score. Owen unfortunately unable to capitalise with the boot leaving the score at 0-5.
From the kick off LSH were getting into the game and drove the ball up the pitch exploiting some missed Wigan tackles but were stopped just short of the line. LSH were awarded a scrum, their scrum half managed to sell an outrageous step and nip over to level the scores. Fortunately (for us) just wide enough for it to be unconverted. 5-5.
Turning into an even and exciting match, Xander lead with a good drive and the some good recycling enabled progress up the pitch, quick distribution from Owen who is getting used to his role in only his second match as scrum half, allowed Sam C and Tap to release Joe who had the pace t round their wing and run in under the posts. Sam C converted to take the score to 5 – 12
A lapse of concentration followed from Wigan and LSH managed to capitalise and worked their way up the pitch and bundle over a try that they converted to bring the scores level again at 12 - 12.
LSH gained heart from this and were now testing Wigan’s defence again driving to the try line and being held up this time over the line. The scrum half scoring from the resulting scrum to give LSH, unconverted giving them the lead at 17-12.
LSH increased their lead with a good driving run from their stand-off who took it under the posts and with the conversion they went into the half time break with a 24-12 lead.

A good talking to from the coaching staff at half time saw improvements. Although the start was a bit messy, Ethan, Tim, Jacob and Louis were now following Sam Cs example and committing LSH in the forwards, this allowed a little more room for the backs despite being outnumbered. Sam C managed a good step to break through the LSH backs to get the crucial first score of the half and convert to bring the score back to 24-19.
The match was tight but Wigan were fighting their way back into it and one move along the backs saw our usual winger Tap (playing o/s centre today) pass out to winger James who pinned his ears back and just outstrip the defence to score a great try which Sam C converted to give Wigan the lead again at 24 – 26.
LSH weren’t done yet though and kept up pressure on the Wigan line, unfortunately a poor clearance kick fell directly to them and they powered for a try to change the lead again. This was unconverted and the score 29 – 26 with time running out.
One last drive up the pitch, Wigan awarded a penalty but touch missed. Somehow we turned over the ball and continued forward progress. The ball appeared to be heading for an overlap on the right wing, but a good step by Louis saw him through for a try. An unusual missed conversion from Sam C didn’t matter in the end as the final whistle went and Wigan won 29 – 31.

A very entertaining game which could easily have gone either way ended with a very narrow victory. Wigan will learn from this experience, when they trust each other and play to their best ability some very good rugby results. At half time they didn’t let their heads go down and fought hard against a team with one extra player. WELL DONE!

MOM: Sam P, Sausage Award: Kieran F (misguided kick)

Team: Tim, Sam P, Ethan, Jacob, Xander, Louis, Owen, Sam C, Kieran F, Isaac, Tap, James