Wigan welcomed New Brighton to Douglas Valley for the penultimate league game of the season. Wigan, whose fortunes have faltered as of late, were in desperate need of a bonus point win in order to have a hope of avoiding relegation.
Wigan hearts sank after 15 minutes when New Brighton worked the ball into the corner, before Wigan indiscipline led to a penalty. A quick tap saw the visiting stand off crash over the line for a 0-7 lead.
The next score came as Wigan had good possession and an attacking scrum. Disaster struck as the scrum went against the head and the away side moved the ball quickly up the field for the stand off to score his second of the day for 0-14 lead.
Wigan were still in the game if they could get the ball into the hands of their talented back line. Logan Astley took up the mantle with a quick tap deep in his own half. The break was on and Wigan moved the ball through the hands before Tom Seabrook finished under the sticks. Morgan converted for a 7-14 score.
Wigan had the momentum now and forced the away side back onto their own line. A quick tap penalty from Chris Carr, saw the big stand off force the ball over and Morgan added the conversion to level the scores.
Wigan had hit their straps and made another break just before half time. This time it was the inventiveness of Nathan Butler, whose deft chip was fielded on the full by Will Morgan who converted his own try to take the lead to 21-14 at half time.
New Brighton regrouped at half time and a misfielded restart saw New Brighton take the ball over the Wigan line to immediately level the scores.
Inventiveness was the name of the game for the Douglas Valley men, as fleet footed Mason Fillingham took the ball blind at the ruck and scored in the corner to regain the lead.
As the game ebbed and flowed it was New Brighton who scored next, taking advantage of Wigan indiscipline to force the home side back before going over for a 26-28 lead.
With 10 minutes to go, Wigan showed real fight, personified by back row forward Tapiwa Stansbie. Stansbie took the ball off the back of an attacking scrum, 22 yards out. Shedding tacklers as he went he eventually carried 5 men over the line to score a wonderful solo effort that restoked the Wigan fires with a 31-28 lead.
Wigan were full of confidence now, as the visitors seemed to be faltering. Great hands through the Wigan backline put Will Morgan away down the right wing. Morgan skinned his man down the outside to score from 30 yards for a 38-28 lead.

With the game all but over, veteran stand off, Matt Tonks, kicked through on half way and found the pace of his youth as he chased the kick down before diving on the loose ball. With the ball recycled, Tom Seabrook was found in support and dived over for the final try of the game. Logan Astley added the conversion as the sides finished 45-28.
Wigan face Aspull at Douglas Valley in the final game of the season, next Saturday the 25th April, with kick off scheduled for 3pm.