Late blow for Black Reds
Last updated 19:26, Thursday, 20 November 2008
It took a late, late finish from never-say-die Wigton to clinch a draw and the visiting Black Reds will feel this was one that got away.
Wigton 19
Aspatria 19
In very heavy conditions, both teams found it hard to play open expansive rugby but gave all they could.
Having never even trained together prior to this, their first game, Aspatria found it hard in the early exchanges to find continuity and looked very disjointed.
Ben Harrison, in his first game at No8, and Prentice Wilkinson-Weir, at scrum half, provided the early momentum and showed signs throughout of a burgeoning understanding with some neat control at the base of the scrum.
But it was Wigton who scored first, missed tackles allowing them to scoot over.
The score seemed to shock the Black Reds into action. Soon the older members of the pack began to make their power show, Ronnie Morris and twin terrors Lloyd and Richard Wilson devastating in Aspatria’s dynamic rucking game plan.
Soon a breakthrough came and Aspatria were equal as Wilkinson-Weir capitalised on some good forward work to dive over.
In the second stanza Aspatria continued to dominate possession, marshalled superbly by Ryan Morris at stand-off who utilised clever probing kicks to pin the home team deep within their own half.
Powerful running by Billy Smith at inside centre and fullback Luke Jackson repeatedly turned Wigton’s attempts at a breakout into fresh attacking options and eventually Ronnie Morris capped a fine display for his first-ever try, converted by Ryan Morris.
As the half went on Aspatria’s dominance of the set piece increased the pressure on Wigton with an outstanding display by props Scott Jefferson and Connor Wilson in the scrum, while those Wilson boys claimed everything in the line-out.
It all seemed a bit too easy and so it proved – one missed tackle and Wigton were through the Aspatria line, quick handling allowing them to swoop down the wing from well inside their own half.
Resolutely Aspatria came back, wing Gareth Millar busying himself in midfield and James Ward providing much-needed impact on the right wing.
Eventually a score came; an extended period of intense pressure on the Wigton line led to Jefferson crossing the whitewash, converted again by Morris.
For the remainder of the game it looked as though Wigton did not have another score in them. But the match would not come to an end no matter how much the young Bower Park boys wished it would.
As the clock wound down Aspatria panicked and, when a misplaced clearance kick led to a penalty for offside, Wigton pounced to equalise.
As the whistle went Aspatria were devastated but they had much to be proud of and showed signs of the potential to become a very good team.
