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Wigan 17 - 13 Littleborough
Daniel Morris15 Feb - 16:30
Morgan - ificent hat trick gives Wigan win over title rivals.
First played second, in a mouth watering top of the table clash at Douglas Valley as Wigan welcomed Littleborough.
Both sides take pride in their defence and as the half ebbed and flowed, the scorer was only troubled twice, as Littleborough kicked two penalties. It was not for the wont of trying, as Wigan came close to making the breakthrough on numerous occasions throughout the half, only to be caught by the last man, have the ball stripped in a tackle or being pulled back for a forward pass when clean through.
The sides went into the break with the scores at 0-6 to the visitors but a spirted team talk, by coaches Martin Scott and Darren Fletcher, gave the league leaders the tactics to put the Littleborough back line under pressure.
So it was, right from the restart that Cassidy chipped over the ailing winger and Will Morgan raced through to collect the loose ball and go over for a try to bring the sides within one point.
Ten minutes into the second half, Cassidy once again spotted a gap behind the left winger. A Crossfield kick in the 22 was fielded on the full and at full speed by Will Morgan who went over in the corner for his second of the day to give Wigan a 10-6 lead.
Littleborough shifted the backline round to deal with the threat from Cassidy’s boot and the game once again settled into a war of attrition up front.
The deadlock was broken when a clearance kick by Cassidy was fielded by the Littleborough fullback, who set himself and looked to clear his lines. However, Will Morgan was on hand to charge the clearance down and quick thinking from George Lowe saw him collect the ball and pass it out to Reece Rowcroft. Rowcroft went past his man, as the defence scrambled to recover, spotted Morgan out on the wing, and put him over for his hat trick score in the right corner. Cassidy converted from the touchline, to the jubilation of the home support and Wigan had what looked like an unassailable 17-6 lead with 5 minutes to play.
Littleborough continued to show the fight and spirit that was characteristic of their play all day, as they refused to go down quietly. A break down the left wing saw them go over for a valuable losing bonus point, for finishing with 7 points as the scores finished 17-13.
Wigan go into a rest week top of the table and looking forward to a trip to Hoylake on 1st March, where they will be looking to continue their fine form.
Both sides take pride in their defence and as the half ebbed and flowed, the scorer was only troubled twice, as Littleborough kicked two penalties. It was not for the wont of trying, as Wigan came close to making the breakthrough on numerous occasions throughout the half, only to be caught by the last man, have the ball stripped in a tackle or being pulled back for a forward pass when clean through.
The sides went into the break with the scores at 0-6 to the visitors but a spirted team talk, by coaches Martin Scott and Darren Fletcher, gave the league leaders the tactics to put the Littleborough back line under pressure.
So it was, right from the restart that Cassidy chipped over the ailing winger and Will Morgan raced through to collect the loose ball and go over for a try to bring the sides within one point.
Ten minutes into the second half, Cassidy once again spotted a gap behind the left winger. A Crossfield kick in the 22 was fielded on the full and at full speed by Will Morgan who went over in the corner for his second of the day to give Wigan a 10-6 lead.
Littleborough shifted the backline round to deal with the threat from Cassidy’s boot and the game once again settled into a war of attrition up front.
The deadlock was broken when a clearance kick by Cassidy was fielded by the Littleborough fullback, who set himself and looked to clear his lines. However, Will Morgan was on hand to charge the clearance down and quick thinking from George Lowe saw him collect the ball and pass it out to Reece Rowcroft. Rowcroft went past his man, as the defence scrambled to recover, spotted Morgan out on the wing, and put him over for his hat trick score in the right corner. Cassidy converted from the touchline, to the jubilation of the home support and Wigan had what looked like an unassailable 17-6 lead with 5 minutes to play.
Littleborough continued to show the fight and spirit that was characteristic of their play all day, as they refused to go down quietly. A break down the left wing saw them go over for a valuable losing bonus point, for finishing with 7 points as the scores finished 17-13.
Wigan go into a rest week top of the table and looking forward to a trip to Hoylake on 1st March, where they will be looking to continue their fine form.
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