Last updated 10:30, Friday, 02 January 2009

THE big freeze is set to continue hitting the local rugby union scene this weekend, with only one game, Kendal v Hull Ionians, surviving. However, it is very doubtful that even this game will go ahead.

Looking back, last Saturday saw Wigton hand out a shock to neighbours Aspatria in Saturday’s seasonal challenge at Bower Park.

The visitors, who play at a level lower than their hosts, won 34-3 – scoring six tries and without conceding any.

Coach Malcolm Brown, a former player, captain and coach at Aspatria took special satisfaction in the result, but also in the performance.

“Scoring six tries and not conceding one against a team from a Division above you has to be satisfying and I thought we could have won even handier. It was an excellent performance and I hope we can go on and repeat that in the remaining League games,” said Brown.

Melvyn Hanley, the Aspatria stalwart said: “No complaints. We were well beaten on the day and full marks to Wigton. They broke really well and their young backs looked particularly sharp.”

It was an outstanding performance from Wigton who, beforehand, had been the team least keen on playing because of the frosty conditions.

That reluctance didn’t last long because after six minutes they scored the first try when Dan Reed went down the short side to put winger Tom Gardner over and Tane Manihera added the conversion.

Aspatria reduced the arrears with a Dan Rayson penalty but on 26 minutes Wigton scored their second try. Rayson, who had just replaced player coach Mike Scott, had a clearance kick charged down by Wigton skipper Greg Morton who completed the task of touching down.

On the half hour mark excellent play by the Wigton backs eventually saw Chris Pattinson and Gardner put David Hanabury in for the try.

Only a brilliant tackle by Aspatria’s best player Gary Hodgson denied Hanabury a second try when he collared him right in the corner.

On the hour Wigton increased their lead when Andy Brown took advantage of some indecision in the Aspatria defence to score and Manihera converted. Wigton spread the ball wide on 66 minutes and a fine off-load from Hanabury put Andrew Logue over.

The sixth and final try came on 72 minutes when Richard Moffat broke clear and went 30 metres to score.

Wigton Wanderers were beaten 34-12 by a Students team in an inter-club challenge on Boxing Day.

Apart from the Fell brothers from Penrith - Jon and Phil, whose late father played for Wigton – the Students team was made-up of players from the town. The game was refereed by head coach Malcolm Brown who had a first-hand look at the talent available at Lowmoor Road.