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Oldham 15 - 33 Wigan
Daniel Morris8 Feb - 16:50
Grit and determination see Wigan with unlikely win
Wigan travelled to Oldham this week, as they looked to bounce back from defeat to fellow title chasers, Warrington in sobering style.
A team meeting in the week asked for calm heads and determination and it appears to have sunk in as Wigan pulled out a gritty and clinical performance in a match where Oldham had much of the possession and the momentum.
Wigan started the game brightly as they quickly moved into attacking position close to the sticks. Reece Rowcroft, starting at scrum half, took the ball from the base of the ruck and darted over for the opening score. Danny Cassidy added a conversion for a 0-7 lead after just 2 minutes of play.
Any thoughts of an easy victory were dispelled quickly as Oldham’s physicality slowed the game down and took any impetus away from the league leaders. Wigan defended doggedly and Oldham could only add a penalty as the first half ebbed away.
The score seemed to wake something up in the Wigan side and Hooker, Harrison Kent-Mannion, found himself in unfamiliar territory as he made a break down the right wing. With defenders closing in Kent-Mannion showed great hands as he threw a pass out of the back of his hand to Will Morgan who continued the break down the right touchline. Morgan made 30 yards before looping a pass inside for Danny Cassidy who went over untouched. Cassidy converted his own try for a 3-14 lead at the half time interval.
Wigan started the second half looking revived and relieved by the gap in the scoreline and within 5 minutes they were once again on the front foot. Riley Dervan made a break from deep within his own half, shrugging off defenders as he went before passing inside to stand off, Zack Barker. Barker was chased down as he approached the Oldham 22 before he grubbered the ball along the floor for the chasing backs. Oldham’s winger made and error and spilled the ball which allowed Will Morgan to tidy up and dive over the line.
Oldham regrouped and put pressure on the Wigan defence. A series of penalties saw Wigan lose a man to the sin bin and Oldham took advantage of the difference in numbers to force the ball close. Oldham’s scrum half picked the ball from the ruck and skipped through the gap and went over for a score under the sticks. With the conversion added the scores were now 10-19 with over half an hour of play remaining.
Oldham had all the momentum now and Wigan were camped on their own line for what seemed an eternity. Such was the Oldham pressure that Wigan lost two more men to the sin bin and for a time were playing 12 men against 15. With space out wide, Oldham kicked the ball into goal and chased the ball down. The try was awarded, to much consternation from the travelling support, as it wasn’t clear whether anyone had grounded the ball before it was knocked dead. With the scores now poised at 15-19, Wigan were in danger of slipping to a second defeat in a row.
With just 8 minutes remaining, Danny Cassidy made a break down the left wing. He sold the chasing defenders half a dozen dummies before taking the ball on himself and diving over in the corner. Cassidy added the conversion from the touchline, to settle the nerves somewhat, and take the scores to 15-26.
With time in the red, Wigan rubbed salt in the Oldham wounds. A clearance kick was misfielded in goal by the hapless winger and Reece Rowcroft was on hand to touch the ball down for his second try of the game. Cassidy added another conversion from the touchline for a final score of 15-33.
Wigan welcome Littleborough to Douglas Valley, next Saturday 15th February with kick off scheduled for 2.15pm.
A team meeting in the week asked for calm heads and determination and it appears to have sunk in as Wigan pulled out a gritty and clinical performance in a match where Oldham had much of the possession and the momentum.
Wigan started the game brightly as they quickly moved into attacking position close to the sticks. Reece Rowcroft, starting at scrum half, took the ball from the base of the ruck and darted over for the opening score. Danny Cassidy added a conversion for a 0-7 lead after just 2 minutes of play.
Any thoughts of an easy victory were dispelled quickly as Oldham’s physicality slowed the game down and took any impetus away from the league leaders. Wigan defended doggedly and Oldham could only add a penalty as the first half ebbed away.
The score seemed to wake something up in the Wigan side and Hooker, Harrison Kent-Mannion, found himself in unfamiliar territory as he made a break down the right wing. With defenders closing in Kent-Mannion showed great hands as he threw a pass out of the back of his hand to Will Morgan who continued the break down the right touchline. Morgan made 30 yards before looping a pass inside for Danny Cassidy who went over untouched. Cassidy converted his own try for a 3-14 lead at the half time interval.
Wigan started the second half looking revived and relieved by the gap in the scoreline and within 5 minutes they were once again on the front foot. Riley Dervan made a break from deep within his own half, shrugging off defenders as he went before passing inside to stand off, Zack Barker. Barker was chased down as he approached the Oldham 22 before he grubbered the ball along the floor for the chasing backs. Oldham’s winger made and error and spilled the ball which allowed Will Morgan to tidy up and dive over the line.
Oldham regrouped and put pressure on the Wigan defence. A series of penalties saw Wigan lose a man to the sin bin and Oldham took advantage of the difference in numbers to force the ball close. Oldham’s scrum half picked the ball from the ruck and skipped through the gap and went over for a score under the sticks. With the conversion added the scores were now 10-19 with over half an hour of play remaining.
Oldham had all the momentum now and Wigan were camped on their own line for what seemed an eternity. Such was the Oldham pressure that Wigan lost two more men to the sin bin and for a time were playing 12 men against 15. With space out wide, Oldham kicked the ball into goal and chased the ball down. The try was awarded, to much consternation from the travelling support, as it wasn’t clear whether anyone had grounded the ball before it was knocked dead. With the scores now poised at 15-19, Wigan were in danger of slipping to a second defeat in a row.
With just 8 minutes remaining, Danny Cassidy made a break down the left wing. He sold the chasing defenders half a dozen dummies before taking the ball on himself and diving over in the corner. Cassidy added the conversion from the touchline, to settle the nerves somewhat, and take the scores to 15-26.
With time in the red, Wigan rubbed salt in the Oldham wounds. A clearance kick was misfielded in goal by the hapless winger and Reece Rowcroft was on hand to touch the ball down for his second try of the game. Cassidy added another conversion from the touchline for a final score of 15-33.
Wigan welcome Littleborough to Douglas Valley, next Saturday 15th February with kick off scheduled for 2.15pm.
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