Wigan U8s v Southport U8s

Players: Nathan, Patrick, Daniel, Levi, Jamie, Francis, George
Weather: Bright sunshine
Pitch conditions: Firm and dry

The under 8s rewrote the record books in an excellent all round performance. Cock a hoop Coach Butler had the impossible task of selecting a man of the match from a team of excellent performances.

The dazzling sunshine was a fitting backdrop to scintillating performance from the Wigan outfit. The sand based firm track was ideal for their expansive running style. After a trademark sluggish start they knuckled down and hit their stride in the first game. Nathan snaked over for his first try on an historic day in the Butler household. Dan followed him over the whitewash following good work from Levi. Patrick and Francis defied the laws of geometry to squeeze over for excellent tries but the biggest cheer of the first game came for Jamie. Famed for his whole hearted running and unselfish passing, Jamie stormed over for a memorable try. Superb stuff.

Wigan backed up their strong running with some excellent tagging. They kept Southport out for much of the second half and edged the game 7-6.

The second game was a tight affair as well. Nathan built on his performance in the first game by scoring 6 blistering tries. Patrick too came to the party with two long range efforts - a reward for straight running. Daniel,as always, backed up well and scored an excellent try. Indeed Coach Butler showed his legendary tactical nous by putting Daniel and Nathan on either wing and using the strong running of the ever excellent Francis and George and the silky passing Patrick to create gaps for the galloping wingers. Like Hannibal Smith in the A-Team, Coach Butler loved it when a plan came together. Although he wasn't wearing leather gloves or smoking a cigar. Which was a shame.

The second game was tragically lost 10-9 as Southport scored with the last touch of the ball.

The third game of the morning is one that shall live long in the memory of those lucky enough to be there. Like Wiggins winning the Tour de France or Armstrong walking on the moon or Kennedy's assassination, it was a moment that defined history. Against a visibly bigger team, the sand based surface having sapped energy from their legs, the Wigan boys summoned up an effort to be proud of. The tagging was clinical and precise. George marauded up the field in the only direction he knows - straight ahead. Jamie, sprinted up the touch line like a panther. Daniel tagged everything that came within six feet of him. Patrick set off on some dramatic long range runs scoring two tries ( only one counting as he put one down over a line he saw - unfortunately for him the half way line!). Francis had the eye of the tiger and rushed at the attackers like a tagging demon. He followed this up with a brilliant long range try. Nathan scored his SIXTEENTH try of the morning ( imagine how good he would be if he tried a bit harder!). Unbelievable. But the highlight amidst all the highlights fell to crowd favourite Levi. Having selflessly sacrificed his tags and helped others by passing when he could have scored for over a season, Levi's moment in the sun finally arrived. Whether it was the seaside air, the sun on his back or just a bribe from his dad, he capped off a memorable day by romping home from 30 yards. Hats were thrown in the air and the cheer could be heard by those paddling in the sea. The game was won 11-9.

A well deserved man of the match for Francis.

Post match meal : Hot dog and a cone of chips. (NB the cone of chips is exclusive to seaside resorts and rarely seen inland)