Wigan Senior Colts Topple the League Leaders

Wigan Senior Colts returned to action following the festive period with a trip to league leaders Eccles, looking to avenge the earlier defeat at Douglas Valley.

Welcoming back Ryan Woolfenden and Harry Cruickshanks, along with Taylor Hughes returning from an injury in the reverse fixture, Will Morgan made his first start of the season at No. 10.

A confident looking Eccles, backed by a vociferous home support, were quickly to find the visitors in no mood to merely provide scoring practice for their hosts. Solid and aggressive in defence and carrying the ball with power through the middle and on the flanks, it was no more than the Wigan lads deserved when after 15 minutes prop Jack Holt finished of a series of forward drives to cross for the first try of the afternoon : 0 – 5

It was no surprise when 5 minutes later when after a strong break from Woolfenden, good support play resulted in the overlap being created for Hughes to glide over near the corner : 0 – 10

It was also no surprise to see the dangerous Eccles winger, who had proved a thorn in the Wigan side in the first game, leave the field after being bulldozed by a barnstorming Jak Fairbrother run minutes earlier. Eccles came back into the game and following a scrum on the Wigan 22m they moved the ball across the line to score in the opposite corner : 5 – 10

Wigan came under immense pressure in the 10 minutes leading up to half time but their defence to a man was resolute and they kept the home side at bay as the half time whistle sounded. Half time Eccles 5 – 10 Wigan

Not having the luxury of replacements, unlike the home side, the Wigan 15 knew they would need a huge effort to turn the narrow advantage into an unexpected (at least from the home side’s viewpoint) victory. The game plan was to play the game in the oppositions half and trust the defence to force mistakes to capitalise on.

The opening 5 minutes of the 2nd period were to be significant to say the least. Another break by the influential Woolfenden saw the ball move quickly along the line only for the ball to be spilled when a try looked certain. Eccles capitalised and aided by a quick succession of penalties crossed for a try of their own to draw the teams level, when they should have been at least 10 points adrift : 10 – 10
Eccles continued to ask questions of the Wigan defence which was more than up to the challenges laid down. It was then gut wrenching that a hopeful kick into the Wigan in goal area conspired to bounce agonisingly away from the Wigan cover to gift another 5 pointer to the home side : 15 – 10

Having taken the lead for the first time more than three quarters into the game, the Eccles players were now thinking more points were to be had, but they’d not anticipated the never say die attitude of the Wigan lads. The next score did indeed come quickly but it was for Wigan who crossed, Fairbrother wresting his way over after good work again from the Wigan forward pack, to level the scores less than 5 minutes from going behind : 15 – 15

As a pulsating encounter drew to a close, herculean defending from Wigan, timely interceptions from Charlie Rickard and great camaraderie and self-belief saw Wigan suddenly sensing victory. However the intervention of the referee curtailing a flowing Wigan attack to see to a minor Eccles injury seemed to have thwarted the push for victory.

From the resulting scrum, Wigan battered at the Eccles line and following one final pick and drive Harry Cruickshanks forced his way over to send players and spectators alike into wild celebration. The outstanding Danny Goulbourne adding the extras. The referee somehow managed to find an addition 2 minutes of playing time that took forever, Eccles regaining from the kick off only to be again thwarted by the Wigan defence, which eventually produced a penalty to the visitors which was triumphantly booted into touch to end the game.
This was undoubtedly the best team performance of a stop start season. Every Senior Colt from 1 to 15 gave their all to produce a result that will make the other sides in this league sit up and take notice. Outstanding defence, clinical finishing and maintaining discipline & self-control in difficult circumstances to topple the league leaders was great to witness.

David Porter