Hard-earned win

The game was played on a wet pitch with a bitterly cold wind sweeping from one end to the other. Neither side used the wind to their advantage and, as is so often the case,both teams played their best rugby into the wind.

Creighton were without a number of players including Dennis Bibby, Dan Dudley, Steven Whyte and Jamie Postlethwaite

Wigton began the brighter and shaded the first half 7-6. They may have expected to kick on from that position with the wind at their backs in the second half but Creighton produced a resolute performance and gradually took control to score two tries and take the game 18-7.

In the 12th minute, somewhat against the run of play, Matt Rogers put over a penalty to put Creighton 3-0 up but an excellent try and conversion by the visitors on 22 minutes gave them the lead. Another Rogers penalty 4 minutes later made the score 6-7 to Wigton and that was the end of the scoring for the first half.

Creighton rolled up their sleeves for the second half and eventually wrested control. On 55 minutes fly half Rogers went over from close range after a period of sustained pressure. He converted his own try to put the home side 13-7 up.

With 10 minutes to go scrum half Johnny Morshead sealed the win when he darted down the blind side from a scrum, dummied and crossed for the clinching score. Rogers hit the post with the conversion attempt.

All the forwards worked hard but Dan Barker and Jamie Warwick were outstanding.

Unfortunately, captain Matt Liddle injured his back leaving him extremely doubtful for next week's Shield Final.