Clitheroe 10 - 33 Wigan

Wigan travelled to Clitheroe in their latest ADM Lancs & Cheshire 3 match, looking to keep up the chase on league leaders Thornton Cleveleys. A bumper crowd was bolstered by a large travelling contingent who had left the confines of the douglas valley in search of festive spirit.

Clitheroe were undaunted and set about owning their home turf in ferocious fashion. Working their way into Wigan territory they were awarded a penalty which was kicked to touch. With the ball played off the top of the lineout, Clitheroe made strong headway and drove the ball over the line for the opening score.

Wigan were rocked by the opening quarter hour and their discipline slipped. Numerous Wigan offences at the break down exacerbated the pressure that the home side was bringing to bear and for all intents and purposes, it looked like a poor day at the office for the league chasing hopefuls.

It was from Clitheroe pressure that Wigan managed to gain a foothold in the game. Clitheroe having worked the ball well up the field, spilled the ball and it was Danny Cassidy that pounced first and secured the ball. Cassidy made a good break down centre field, drawing the full back before putting Will Morgan through to finish from just outside the 22. Cassidy added the conversion to give Wigan a 5-7 lead at the half time interval.

The half time team talk was all about patience and discipline. The game was in the balance but the Wigan men knew they had the quality to take the game by the scruff of the neck if only they could play the game in the Clitheroe half.

And so it was that the second half began and Danny Cassidy put boot to the ball from just inside his own half and found touch inside the 22, giving Wigan excellent attacking position from the lineout. However, the ball was lost in the lineout and Clitheroe looked to tidy up and clear. A moment of madness from the home side saw the ball squirt loose and Cory Atkins was on hand to collect the ball and stretch over the line for a try in the corner.

Clitheroe fought back with a try of their own just a few minutes later as an attacking scrum was wheeled blind and played off the back to go over on the short side to make the scores 10-12 with 25 minutes to play.

This score seemed to be the catalyst for Wigan to kick up a gear and it was Chris Carr who took on the charge with a break right through the heart of the Clitheroe defence. Carr found Cassidy in support who spotted acres of space behind the Clitheroe wing and put in a deft grubber kick for Will Morgan to collect unopposed on the left wing for the score. Cassidy added the conversion for a 10-19 lead.

Carr once again put Clitheroe to the sword with a break from standoff that took him across the field before passing to George Lowe on the wing, scoring his first ever senior try and securing the bonus point. Cassidy added the conversion to give Wigan a 10-26 lead.

Wigan continued to ratchet up the pressure and in the final moments of the game it was Cassidy who once again spotted space behind the defence with a cross field kick that was collected and finished by Will Morgan who completed his hat trick. Cassidy converted to make the final scores 10-33.