This was one game that the Wigan 3rd wanted to be on top form to beat one of the old foes, unfortunately it wasn’t quite the performance or the result that they strived for.
With a strong looking pack and some quick backs Aspull had the better of the early play but Wigan held them out and where able to gain periods of sustained possession in the Aspull half, this playing against the infamous 2nd team pitch slope.  Wigan weren’t able to make this possession tell and a swift Aspull attack saw them score close to the posts for an easy conversion to take them 7 points clear.  Wigan rallied after some stern words from Messrs Paton, Simm and Cameron under the posts and after a sustained attack involving several phases on good ball retention saw young Matt Cooper beat three defenders to score an excellent try that was converted by Greg Evans.
Wigan continued to keep up good pressure in the Aspull half but on too many occasions ball was turned over to easily to Aspull who made good use of the ball to score a further 2 tries and one conversion to make the half time score 19 – 7 to Aspull.
In the second period neither team played with any continuity and Wigan didn’t make the most of playing down the slope.  Aspull had the better of the play throughout the half and where able to cross the Wigan line one more time for a converted try.  Although Wigan battled hard with good performances from a number of players they weren’t able to contend with Aspull in the tight or the loose.
The final score reflected the game with Aspull running out 26 – 7 winners.

Report: Dave Paton

Never has a scoreline been so unrepresentative of a match than this one. Wigan's young side, led by debutant captain Stegga Jones, came up against a usual Green Lane mix of size, power and forward thinking determination. Yet the Douglas Valley boys never gave up, with a solid defensive performance.
Early pressure from Ormskirk saw a try wide out on  the right hand side and the score remained one try for much of the 1st half. Wigan began to dominate the set pieces with great front row performances from Woods, Stopforth C and Jeffers. Debutants Matt Graham and Mark Howarth worked tirelessly in the pack and made excellent contributions all day.
Matt Cooper and Matt McQuillan produced some dynamic runs into the 'Kirk half, assisted by Killian Wallace, debuting at scrum-half. His quick ball set up some great opportunities, but unfortunately support play was lacking and Ormskirk turned over ball regularly. The turning point came when Greg 'Tree Surgeon' Evans limped off the field with an ankle injury (which was soon tended to by his own nurses 'Lambert and Butler').
This meant a reshuffle in the back line which saw the impressive Pat Gallagher move to 10. Playing even with illness, Pat used clever kicks and chips to break a strong O's defence and in fact thought he had scored; unfortunately for Pat, the dotted line was actually the 5m line and not the try line!! O, as they always do, played very cleverly, penetrating out wide to score their remaining tries. The majority of scores were from counter attack and meant that they had to work especially hard in attack.
Missing many regular players, Wigan stuck resolutely to the task and never gave up. Led admirably by The Steg, Wigan can take pride in this performance.

Report: Dave Paton
The scurge of the 3rd XV, late cry-offs, struck with 19 normal faces being unavailable for this trip to Chester. This said, the 12 players did not lack commitment at any stage and made the well organised Christleton 1st XV work hard for their win.
Being 3 players short added an initial hindrance, but generously Christleton learnt two players of their own, who were determined throughout. Christleton's tries came from stretching a dogged Wigan defence and by having superior numbers. Debuts for Wigan included Harrison and Tyler, with Hurst making only his second appearance for the club. Big efforts from the whole pack, especially to Ian Boardman who came to help us out at the 11th hour and Paul Berry, who debuted in the back row!
Wigan's try came from a blindside move, with yours truly putting Matt McQuillan through to race 25 metres under the posts.
A good effort, but one which needs to be improved upon before the visit of Leigh next week.

Report: Dave Paton
A great match which fully justified its derby status. From the kick off,
a hard contest ensued.
Early wigan pressure led to 2 missed penalty attempts. From the second
attempt, Leigh's counter attack led to a try against the run of play.
Sustained wigan forward dominance at the set piece wasn't converted into
points. Again, from the counter attack, leigh scored making it 10-0.
Wigan's points began when quick ball from a ruck, into the devaistating
hands of Jaffa Jeffries, whose pass found Jon Blan in the corner for 10-5.
Further missed penalty attempts cost Wigan dear.
The second half began badly for Wigan with Leigh scoring 2 quick tries
and putting daylight between the sides.
The try of the match came, again through forward dominance by wigan,
quick hands found returning flyer Graham Waters who crashed over in the
corner. Unlike Mark Cueto, Muddy's dodgy try was given!!
A great game, played with spirit by both sides!

Widnes 3rd XV 23 Wigan 3rd XV 12
Saturday April 12th 2008
Pictures courtesy Mary Burley