Wigan St Judes ARLFC – Match Reports

1st Team

Saturday 10 March 2018

What a start to the new NCL 2018 season for Wigan St Jude’s away at newly promoted West Bowling, which after a very shaky start by Jude’s,  eventually ran out winners 30-24. A fired up West Bowling took advantage of a below par St Jude’s who never really got going until the 26 minute  were by then West Bowling had ran in 18 unanswered points . Clever substitutions started the Jude’s revival with Nathan Bevan, Luke Barrett and Man of the Match Paul Pendlebury coming on which ignited the Jude’s come back,  Rob Fenney, Ben Fisher and Danny Fallon were at the heart of all Jude’s attacks trying to unlock a very stubborn defence. Hardworking prop Luke Barrett crashed over for 2 tries in a 6 minute spell of Jude’s pressure, both goaled with the reliable boot of Ben Fisher and right on the stroke of half time Man of the Match Paul Pendlebury smashed his way over, off a short pass from Rob Fenney which Ben Fisher added the two to make the scores level at the break 18 all. With the Yorkshire weather setting in the pitch started to cut up bad this made the game at times untidy but St Jude’s dug in and gradually got the upper hand,  Nathan Bevan, Olumide Oladele, Paul Pendlebury, Ben Fisher and Baz Rothwell getting stronger by the minute further scores were inevitable. Ben Fisher found Paul Pendlebury who got his second try and centre Connor Parkinson side stepped his way over on 54 minutes, Fisher goaled and Jude’s now had a 30-18 lead. But the home side once again capitalised on Jude’s indiscipline and scored, against the run of play to keep Jude’s on their toes for the last 10 minutes. The weather and time was against West Bowling and Jude’s hung on for this important win, which at the end of the season could prove to be two very important points.

Point scorers..Luke Barrett 2 tries, Paul Pendlebury 2 tries, Connor Parkinson 1 try..Ben Fisher 5 Goals

Man of the Match…..NCL..Paul Pendlebury, totally changed St Jude’s when he came on.

Man of the Match….Coaches choice ..Ben Fisher Mr 100% with the boot again

Under 12’s - Maroons

Sunday 11 March 2018

Blackbrook Royals 48 v Wigan St Judes 0

Today saw us play our 1st cup group game and we were away against the one of the toughest possible teams.

Due to injuries and illness we only had 13 players but each and everyone of you gave everything you had against a solid Blackbrook team.   Judes made Blackbrook work from the off and was holding our own until a couple of decisions went against us. With every player giving their best Judes broke Brooks defence on few occasions. With Lewis Banks organising the Judes attack, Layton Cottam making breaks in the Brook lines and Rohan Green giving Brook something else to think about.  There was big tackles coming in from Harry Stokes and Judes held Brook to 24-0 at half time.

The 2nd half Judes didn't let up and still took the game to Blackbrook, playing some good rugby but yet again the decisions didn't go Judes way.  The Judes didn't give up as other teams may have and each player never took a backward step. The final score didn't reflect the the effort shown today.

Well done Judes !!

Awards this week :-

Player of the Match - Layton Cottom

Parents Player of the Match - Alex Birch

Coaches Award - Lewis Banks

Effort and Achievement - Harry Stokes

Next week we have another cup game away against Ashton Bears.