Wigan 42 - 17 Trafford MV

Wigan welcomed Trafford MV to Douglas Valley for the first-round proper of the ADM Cup. Conditions before the game were dire but the weather relented, and Wigan took full advantage with their running rugby style.

Just 3 minutes in, Trafford kicked into the Wigan 22 and Conor Taylor collected the loose ball at fullback. Taylor stepped inside the chasing defenders and broke free before rounding the Trafford full back and showing a clean pair of heels, to score from all of 80 yards. Joe Prior added the conversion.

On the quarter hour, Wigan made good on a spell of possession moving the ball from left to right. Gee found Dugdale on the burst who broke the line before offloading to Conor Taylor. Taylor drew his man before pitting Clayton over for the score.

Trafford fought back and worked their way into Wigan territory before being awarded a line-out deep in the Wigan 22. With the lineout won, Trafford kept the ball tight and took it over after 3 phases. With the conversion added, the score was 12-7.

Just two minutes later Trafford further capitalised on some sloppy play from the home side. A Wigan clearance was kicked straight back and with scarce cover, Wigan were left scrambling for the loose ball. It was Trafford who hacked through once again before collecting the ball and going over to tie the game. 12-12

Wigan regrouped and regained the ascendancy. Having won a lineout just 5 metres out from the Trafford line, Wigan played the ball out wide through the hands of Dugdale, Prior, Gee and Taylor before Boardman was put over in the corner to take the score to 17-12 at the half time break.

Trafford made the better of the half time break and took the opportunity to regain the lead, playing the ball out wide and going over to tie the game 17-17.

But that was to be the last of the Trafford scores as Wigan immediately took control of the match. A Trafford knock on from the restart resulted in a Wigan scrum around the 22-yard line. The ball was played out wide via Prior and Gee, who found Conor Taylor. Taylor’s step created a gap in the defensive line and he took the ball over to ground in the corner.

Moments later, a Gee kick through resulted in Wigan regaining possession on the Trafford 5 metre line. Prior found Lee Scully who ran over the top of the fullback to score another for the home side.

Kieran Rennox was the next Wigan man to break the line, sucking in defenders before finally being slowed. Rennox got the ball away and Gee exploited the space before offloading to Conor Taylor. Taylor set the fullback up and then found Connor Matthews on the outside who finished from 30 yards.

The final score of the game came from a Wigan scrum near halfway. Wallace took the ball blind from the back of the scrum and played the ball to Dugdale, Dugdale then found his brother who made light work of the tight space down the blind side and went over for the score.

Wigan 42-17 Trafford.