Wigton run out of Steam

Wigton’s season got off to a somewhat disappointing start as they went down to Aspatria in the first round of the Cumbria Cup by a scoreline of 13-41.

Wigton had first use of the strong breeze but Aspatria opened the game with a period of sustained possession. Five minutes in, Wigton’s season took a turn for the worse as key back Richard Moffatt, playing fly half, departed with a serious looking shoulder injury.

Aspatria seemed to have blown their chances when Wigton won a turnover. Unfortunately a pass between forwards was intercepted by Aspatria lock Matthew Atkinson who galloped over from thirty yards out. Jack Clegg attempted the conversion but referee Alistair Jones seemed to rule that Wigton had prevented the kick as Clegg went to readjust the ball having already started his run up.

A few minutes later Aspatria conceded a penalty for holding on thirty yards out which enabled now-Fly half Josh Leeson to narrow the score to 3-5. He attempted a more ambitious kick shortly afterwards, from just inside the Aspatria half, but missed.

Aspatria had their chances to add to the score. Fly half Watson made a break but knocked on in the tackle. Winger Noutch dropped a pass which would have given him a run for the line. Atkinson punched hole through the middle and Wigton’s Captain John Storey was yellow carded for a defensive penalty in his own 22. Aspatria had a line out a few yards from the Wigton line and No 8 Gary Hodgson crashed over for his team’s second try, making the score 3-10.

Wigton narrowed the lead when centre Oliver Lewis made a powerful run down the right hand touchline, brushing aside two defenders. As the full back tackled him he passed to back rower Fraser Ledingham who scored to make the score 8-10.

Aspatria had the last word in the first half when Watson made another break and Hodgson sailed through a defensive gap scoring his second try to make the score 8-15 at the interval.

In the second half Wigton tried to test the heavier Aspatria pack by keeping the ball in hand, avoiding kicks into the wind and playing at high tempo. There were times when this tactic was executed well and from midfield positions good ground was made. However as the half wore on Wigton found themselves trying this approach in their own 22, a situation where any mistake gave Aspatria the ball in a dangerous position.

Aspatria tried to emulate the Wigton tactic of quick taps but a pass from prop James Gaskell was intercepted by Leeson who sprinted clear some sixty yards out to narrow the gap to 13-15.
The fight back was nipped in the bud when Wigton lost the ball in the twenty two. Aspatria butchered a try scoring opportunity when poor passing negated an overlap, but the pressure told with Hodgson passing behind the tackler to put Atkinson in for his second try.

The last quarter was all Aspatria as they extended their lead with two tries from centre Ben Robinson and one from prop Adam Cavanagh, making the final score 13-41.

Wigton are now in a position to concentrate on the league, starting with next week’s visit of St Benedicts.