Highlights: Scholars suffer first defeat of season in the derby

Saints Scholars suffered their first defeat of the season after losing out to Wigan in the derby.

The game started well for Saints, and after seven minutes were unlucky not to lead, after Owen Dagnall unfortunately lost possession of the ball when going for the line.

The game was a battle of a contest for the first 15 minutes, but it was the Saints who broke the deadlock. After repeated sets on the Wigan line, the defence was finally broken with some great play to get the ball to the left corner where Rocco Talbot-Piggott dove in to score the first try of the game. George Whitby nailed the sideline conversion, giving the side a 0-6 lead.

However, Wigan replied only six minutes later with a try of their own when full back Nathan Lowe received an offload 15 metres out to cross over next to the posts. Jack Farrimond converted the try, levelling the score, 6-6.

Wigan then struck again, after Dylan Kelly-Duffy dummied the defence to break downfield, before finding Keegan Boyd with an offload to cross to the left of the post. Farrimond then converted the try taking the game to 12-6.

As we entered the final 10 minutes of the half, Talbot-Piggott was again played into the left corner, but this time he couldn’t ground the ball with his diving finish. Following the knock-on Dagnall was deemed to have thrown the ball away, and sin-binned for the offence.

The Saints defence stood strong despite the numerical disadvantage on the field, and after a great defensive period, Whitby came up with a great kick in his own 20 to get the ball away from the Saints line, and Talbot-Piggotts chase forced a goal-line drop out. From the resulting drop out Harry Robertson broke through the Wigan defence 10 metres out and despite the tackle attempts grounded the ball on the right. Whitby converted the goal and left the score even going into half-time at 12-12.

However at the start of the second half, just before Dagnalls’ return, Wigan made the extra man advantage pay after a kick to the corner where Joseph Tyrer claimed the ball to score in the corner. Farrimond kicked the goal taking the score to 18-12.

A break from Nathan Lowe who was charging at the Saints line was brilliantly stopped by Roberts, but the ball was quickly moved right on the next play and Tyrer crossed for his second. Farrimond converted, 24-12.

Straight from kick-off Wigan broke down the right, where Lowe was found supporting and raced away despite the efforts of Saints to stop him to score under the posts. Farrimond converted again, 30-12.

The final try of the game came with 15 minutes to go when Farrimond kicked a 40/20 to get his side up the field, where he then later broke through the Saints defence to score under the sticks where he then converted his own try.

Despite the efforts of the Saints, they just couldn’t find a way to get over the Wigan, even coming close on a few occasions in the final 15 minutes, leaving the final score at 36-12.

Match Summary

Wigan team: Nathan Lowe, Joseph Tyrer, Joseph Hodkinson, George Green, George O’Loughlin, Charlie Yeomans, Jack Farrimond, Kian McDermott, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Lukas Mason, Joshua Cartwright, Trent Kelly-Duffy, Kalum Rathbone.

Interchanges: Brody Allred, Josh Swindley, Jack Lightbrown, Keegan Boyd.

Tries: Joseph Tyrer (2), Nathan Lowe (2), Keegan Boyd, Jack Farrimond.

Goals: Jack Farrimond (6 from 6)

Saints team: Louie Roberts, Daniel Hill, Rory Holliday, Owen Dagnall, Rocco Talbot-Piggott, Harry Robertson, George Whitby, Dan Frost, Cole Marsh, Callum Cottington, Keane Elms, Deacon Swarsbrick, Jake Davies.

Interchanges: Jamie O’Keeffe, Morgan Baraclough-Watson, Malachi Price, Harry Rigby, Oliver Garmston, Corey Roden

Tries: Rocco Talbot-Piggott, Harry Robertson.

Goals: George Whitby (2 from 2)

Sin-bins: Owen Dagnall (32)

HT: 12-12

FT: 36-12

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