Cold Wet and Party Time

The sunny autumn disappeared with a vengeance this week, and the impending visit of a strong Wigan team did nothing to improve the chill at Avenue Street.

Missing captain Tom Platt and experienced players Tom McNulty and Connah Mansfield, combined with last the minute withdrawal of Jaime Lambert (Ankles) and Oliver McKeown (Dad forgot his inhaler !!!!), created panic amongst the ranks.

Lewis Picton took back his captaincy for the day, George Whitehead was ushered to prop, Joe Cropper dragged from the wing to inside centre and James Harris dumped on the wing to set up a literal David and Goliath encounter. Lawson Bates turned up for his second session with the boys and was promptly handed the full back shirt and told to have a good time.

From the Wigan kick off, no knock ons and the boys literally smashed their way down the field with commitment and a desire to play as a unit. Al Harris was rubbing his hands together at the good ball coming his way, and Jake Rimmer was standing wide waiting to unleash Joe Cropper into the game.

First off load and Joe was running full steam into the middle of the Wigan boys, Owen Lewis could only stand and watch and Myles Garth was picking daisies on the wing for a change.

The forwards recycled the ball, and the process was repeated until the boys were three tries up and the coaches were looking confused but happy. Wigan started to kick well to relieve pressure, but Lawson had an amazing debut and returned the ball to the comfort of his forwards time after time. Half time and four tries to the good, with George Whitehead failing to score on the whistle with a double movement letting the opposition off the hook.

Off went the second half, with Wigan opting to kick deep and pressurise the back three. Wigan fought back into the game with some great sniping runs by the scrum half flat footing the less experienced and dragging Wigan back to the table.
That was until Joe Cropper decided to kill the game off with a full length try, having broken through two scrag tackles, he opened his stride and the dream continued.

Final score 6 tries to 2, Josh Podmore finished the day with a graceful hop over the line, and George Whitehead made the “hit of the day” on his opposite number, but failed again to score a drive over from three inches – 2 missed tries on the day so he’s doing laps on Wednesday night ;-)

Man of the match to Lawson – four days with the club, playing out of position, and still managed to play a team game.