Wigan 25 - 26 Thornton Cleveleys

Wigan welcomed Thornton Cleveleys to Douglas Valley this weekend, with the visitors in top spot and having won the opposite fixture on the Fylde coast, earlier in the season. Wigan would overhaul their opposition on the day with a victory of any kind.

It was the home side who got off to a good start, working into the TC half before being awarded a penalty for offside, which Joss Parker converted.

The visitors struck back 10 minutes later, having used a spell of possession to work their way into the Wigan 22. TC kept the ball tight and eventually forced their way over for a converted try and a 3-7 lead.

TC continued to put pressure on the Wigan defensive line and showed why they have been the league leaders for most of the season. A break by the outside centre, cut right through the middle of the Wigan defence and was carried 40 yards before he stepped the Wigan fullback for another converted score. 3-14

With the game in danger of slipping away, Wigan regrouped and took the ball on the offensive. Chris Carr, unable to find space, bounced off three defenders before crashing over, under the sticks. Parker added the conversion to close the gap to 10-14.

The game now entered a stalemate with both defences on top and each side could only add a penalty a piece to enter half time at 13-17.

Wigan started the brighter in the second half, with an attacking lineout just 10 metres out from the TC line. The ball was played off the top directly to Chris Carr who once again bounced off defenders and crashed over to give Wigan the lead. Joss Parker added the conversion to take a 20-17 lead.

Wigan continued to pile on the pressure, and this time it was Dugdale who cut open the visitors’ defence. Dugdale took the ball down the right-hand side before playing a beautifully timed pass out to Jack Proffitt who dived in at the corner for a 25-17 lead with just 20 minutes remaining.

The visitors were not done though, and it was around this time that the wheels began to fall off for the home side. A series of penalties for the visitors took the scores to 25-23, and with just a minute left, they were awarded another penalty, 40 yards out but in front of the sticks. With the game so tight and the result potentially deciding the direction of the league title, passions were high. As the kicker lined up his shot, a whistle rang out from the crowd and the kicker hooked the ball left and missed by a good distance, much to the joy of the Wigan faithful.

However, the celebrations were short lived as the referee blew his whistle and allowed the penalty to be retaken. Given another shot, the TC kicker hit it true, and the visitors took the victory, in controversial fashion, by just a single point with the game ending 25-26.

Whilst the manner of the defeat will sting for the Douglas Valley men, they can have no real complaints after coming up against a Thornton Cleveleys side who deserve their place at the top of the table.

Wigan travel to Dukinfield a week on Saturday, the 17th of February with kick off scheduled for 2.15pm.