Wigan 28 - 10 Clitheroe

Wigan welcomed Clitheroe to Douglas Valley this weekend, knowing that a single point would be enough to ensure promotion, with a game to spare.

Wigan made a bright start, taking the ball into the Clitheroe half before an infringement by the visitors saw a penalty awarded on the 22 yard line, right in front of goal. Jack Dugdale spotted an opportunity and took a quick tap, breaking through the staggered defensive line to score under the posts. Joss Parker added the conversion for a 7-0 lead in only the second minute of the game.

Any thoughts of a walk over were soon banished as Clitheroe found their footing and worked themselves back into the game. However, it was Wigan who seized what was a rare opportunity on the quarter hour mark. Having made good ground, Wigan were poised on the 22 yard line with options both left and right. Dugdale, playing a scrum half, took the ball on and feigned to ship it out wide, before cutting back on the ‘A’ gap, right next to the ruck. Dugdale beat three men to go over under the sticks for his and Wigan’s second try of the game. Parker added the conversion for a 14-0 lead which they took into the half time break.

The second half restarted with Clitheroe in the ascendancy. Having had some good pressure in the first half that they had not converted into points, they were determined to be more clinical in the second half. 8 minutes after the restart, Clitheroe were camped deep in Wigan territory. Attack after attack was rebuffed in what was a great defensive effort from the Douglas Valley men. Clitheroe finally broke through a stretched defence to go over in the left corner but they were unable to convert the try.

The score seemed to galvanise the home side and Wigan set about shifting the momentum. On the stroke of the 55th minute, Will Boardman broke through the defensive line and only had the fullback to beat. A subtle step took Boardman over the top of the flailing defender and he crashed over for another score under the sticks which Parker duly converted for a 21-5 lead.

Clitheroe were not done yet. A speculative kick into the corner was chased down by Ollie Morgan, playing fullback. Morgan collected the ball and went to clear, only for the kick to be charged down by the chasing Clitheroe wing. The ball popped into the air and Clitheroe were first to the ball and flopped over the line for an easy score, however they were unable to convert.

With just 10 minutes to go, and with Wigan searching for a bonus point that would keep up the pressure on league leaders, Thornton Cleveleys, Jack Dugdale pounced once again. Clitheroe fed their own scrum but a good shove from the dominant Wigan pack meant they were unable to get clean ball. The ball came out of the back row and Dugdale spotted the opportunity to steal the ball and take it on. With Clitheroe set up to attack from the scrum, Dugdale’s hat-trick score came easier than the previous two and Parker ended the day with a perfect 4 from 4 after nailing the conversion to give the home side a 28-10 victory.

Wigan travel to Burnley in two weeks’ time to round off their league campaign and to celebrate their promotion to ADM League 3. Wigan will also look forward to a trip to Bakewell on the 13th April as they embark on the Papa John’s Trophy trail, with a potential trip to Twickenham a real motivator for the Douglas Valley men.