NORTH LANCS/CUMBRIA LEAGUE

HAWCOAT PARK 25 WIGTON 15

LIAM Harrison grabbed a try on his comeback for Hawcoat Park and helped them secure their first ever non-cup victory over Wigton in their first game after the Christmas break.

Having retired from professional rugby league after an illustrious career with Barrow Raiders, Harrison has returned to play for his old union club and got on the scoresheet in the 25-15 win.

Hawcoat’s only previous victory against Wigton had come in a Cumbria Cup match, and they were going into the match against the side just above them in the North Lancs/Cumbria League on the back of a three-week break.

The early stages suggested this clash would be close-fought as the sides exchanged penalties, with George Smith levelling for the hosts after Wigton’s fly-half had booted them ahead.

Both sets of forwards were getting stuck into each other as well, but it was the visitors who got the first try when a spell of sustained pressure following a line-out in the Hawcoat 22 eventually saw them force their way over on 25 minutes.

The score went unconverted, but Wigton held out until half time and went in leading 8-3.

The second half proved a different story though, with Harrison, Jason Priss and Ryan Milner all making an impact from the bench.

Milner’s early runs made some good ground for the Maroon and Whites, followed by further forward drives from Ashley Mowat.

He slipped a great pass to the supporting Adam Grainger, who jinked his way over under the posts for a try to give Smith a simple conversion.

Hawcoat now cranked up the pressure on the Wigton defence, only for a loose ball in the visiting half to be gathered up by one of their players, who raced away for a converted score which restored their five-point lead.

Smith reduced the arrears with his second penalty and then more strong running from replacement props Priss and Milner led to the fly-half finding Harrison with a short pass. He shipped the ball on for skipper Dan White to barge through for an unconverted try.

A similar move led to Harrison getting Hawcoat’s third score, and Smith duly added the extras.

The home side then went in search of the fourth try which would have secured the bonus point, while Wigton ran everything in an effort to at least earn a losing bonus point.

The game ended on a slightly sour note as Wigton’s fly-half suffered a nasty injury while tackling Matt Sayle and was taken to hospital, but otherwise this was a day for Hawcoat to celebrate as they moved up to fourth in the table.