David Warwick, a member of Cumbria’s County Championship winning side 25 years ago has been charged with reviving the fortunes of Wigton.
Very much fallen giants in local bragging rights, the Greens are starting to stir again in the Counties 1 Cumbria League.
They started with a home draw against Egremont, the side most likely to challenge the big two of Upper Eden and Cockermouth; hammered Hawcoat Park 71-22 and at the week-end beat Penrith 2nds 31-15.
Warwick said: “We are on a re-build but the team has bags of potential and there’s a good spirit with players old and new joining. So much so we are hopeful of putting out a second team again.
‘”The Colts has re-started again this year and the youth section is growing so overall there’s a positive vibe around the place.”
Against Penrith they started on the front foot and looked a very capable side with plenty of pace out wide.
It wasn’t long before their pace told with left winger Stuart Carruthers beating the cover to score in the corner. Minutes later an almost carbon copy try was scored when again the pacy winger beat the defence on the outside to score.
This time it was impressively converted out wide by the scorer for a 12-0 lead in as many minutes.
It was then Penrith’s turn to have some time with the ball, the forwards started gaining confidence and great runs by Parkin, Jeremiah, and the impressive Lewis Birkbeck got them on the front foot and from a quick tap the ball was moved left where Dan Moreland timed his pass to the winger Jack Mason who dived in in the corner.
Penrith had started to play with confidence and throughout the rest of the half looked equally as good, if not better, with ball in hand. The forwards worked tirelessly against a much bigger pack, the lineout functioning well in very windy conditions.
However Wigton took advantage of some weak defence out wide and Carruthers went in again right on half time to complete his hat-trick and add the conversion for a half-time lead of 19-5.
Carruthers is a recent convert from football although his father Ian became a Wigton rugby legend, playing 20 years for the club.
Penrith had the wind in their backs in the second second half and it wasn’t long before they had their second try.
The ball was moved left and a good ball by RL convert Joe Spencely found John Jenkinson in space and he finished it in the corner.
Shortly after Arran Cavaghan made a break through midfield running 50 metres only being dragged down inches short, a couple of phases later Birkbeck lost the ball in the act of scoring.
Penrith stayed camped in the Wigton 20 metre area and from a scrum the ball was moved right and Jack Mason chipped over his opposition winger for Tom Kirk to win the race touching down to make it 19-15.
This was as close as Penrith got to taking the lead and despite regular chances to further their lead great defence by Wigton kept them at bay.
The last 15 minutes belonged to Wigton and they scored two more tries through Calvin Crompton and Elliot Armstrong, one converted by Carruthers to take the spoils.
