Winning Ugly

Today Brian and I traveled to Dewsbury's Flair Stadium, home of League One rugby league side Dewsbury Rams to watch Wigan Warriors take on Huddersfield Giants.

Wigan were awful really. They dropped the ball, passed it forward, missed tackles and kicks for touch, didn't pass the ball when they should, or passed it so badly it was impossible to catch! The very windy weather didn't help, nor did the very small pitch, which favoured the Giants' style of play more than our more expansive, free running style.
 
We were behind but not out of touch on the scoreboard right up to the last five seconds of the game when Jack Farrimond scored a try in the corner. Heart breaking for Huddersfield, but a great joy for us Wigan fans!

It was a landmark 200th game for Liam Farrell, so he was given the chance to take the kick for goal, seeing as the game was won. He's not normally our kicker, in fact I can't recall seeing him take a kick before, but he managed to score it from the touchline!

In a way we didn't deserve the win as we were second best on the day. That said, the fact that our players never gave up, held their nerve and found a way to win suggests that we did deserve to win. My photo was taken after the game ended. There's a more scenic extra of Gawthorpe Water Tower which is near the stadium. It's a Grade 2 listed building.

There'd been a couple of fights too. One during the game and one after it had ended, which is quite unusual. I hope there's no disciplinary issues, we can't afford to lose anyone, and we have to improve a lot if we're to hang onto our remaining two trophies.

Our travel both ways went without a hitch, and I enjoyed a lovely, expensive healthy salad from Pret a Manger in the service station!

We're home now and catching up on another game from today between Leeds and Warrington.