ST PATS FIRST HALF SECURES VICTORY TO GO TOP

WIGAN ST PATS 40 V EGREMONT RANGERS 22
NCL PREMIER @ CLARINGTON PARK---30 MAY 2015 2.30PM

WIGAN ST PATS IN ACTION

A storming first 40 minutes from St Pats saw them secure enough in reserve to gain the points that took the Wigan side to the top of the pile in The National Conference Premier table.  It was a barnstorming first half that seemed to catch visitors Egremont struggling to get off the coach as they fell to a 24-6 deficit at the break before a second period recovery fell away to see new league leaders Wigan St Pats secure a 40-22 final score.

THE FAMOUS WIGAN PIER

With no NCL Premier team at home in nearby West Yorkshire we decided to make the trip over the peak district again following last weeks venture to Leigh and make a first visit to Wigan St Pats and only a second ever visit to the town itself.
A previous visit many years ago had been for a visit to the now sadly closed Wigan Pier and the 'the way we were' museum which had actors walking around talking to the visitors and a interactive school room from the old days with the actors who I remember terrified us all with their interpretation of a Victorian classroom.  The site is closed now and looking very sad although the 'pier' is still just about visible from the roadside and of course to those who have not visited there are no amusement arcades on this structure it was just a small jutting out and raising bit of ironwork for tilting tubs into the waiting barges on the canal.

DW STADIUM HOME FOR FOOTBALL AND RUGBY

Our departure from base was met by a swift change over in Manchester and Wigan North Western station was arrived at around 1115 via a First Transpennine service operated with a Northern Rail set, that was a first for me.  The plan had always been to take a look at the nearby DW Stadium and the adjacent Robin Park ground the latter from the NWCL, having meandered around the Wigan Pier area we moved onto The DW Stadium and to say I was disappointed was an understatement I know it is now out of season for the football club Wigan Athletic and Wigan Rugby League club were away at the Magic Weekend in Newcastle but the whole stadium was shuttered up.  The position of the ground is once again for a new build in the middle of nowhere at the present time although in a positive note it does have a lot of car parking around it.  From what could be seen of the ground it does look quite nice within but on the outside there were many parts of the ground looking somewhat tired for a relatively new ground. 

HOME GROUND FOR WIGAN ROBIN PARK

To the side of the ground is the Wigan Robin Park Arena which has a selection of outdoor pitches and a floodlit running track with a football pitch within the track that Robin Park use to ply their NWCL trade. 
Overall this felt a quite disappointing trip to look at these two sites probably because I had been amazed the previous evening to read of some of the clubs and histories associated within Wigan.  Of course nearby Springfield Park had been the home of Wigan Athletic but since demolished it has been built upon with new houses but barring a named street in honour of a former player I believe there is no other reference.  Sharing DW Stadium is Wigan Rugby League club and they themselves had a wonderful ground in Central Park just around 1/2 a mile away from our ultimate destination.  You may well guess this once iconic ground now has a large supermarket car park on it and once again I had read there is no statue or memorial to the former stadium.  Hopefully the latter two are correct statements as we decided not to continue our tour by visiting the former sites.  Wigan also hosts a NCL League 1 side in St Judes so you can see there are plenty of options to suit all tastes and pocket within the town.  The town centre I found quite attractive and with all required stores was more than functional and we opted not to have a lunch break in W/spoons due to a very busy premises giving up little in seating capacity.

So it was time to make our way to Darlington St to find Wigan St Pats ARLFC the straight thoroughfare that is Darlington St East which is adorned with old terraces that I'm sure could tell many a tale of the history of this town.  Just 100 yards off the main road we find Clarington Park with no major signage the club is a little understated with changing rooms just outside the immediate boundary of the club access is made through payment of £2.50 for which we also get a very professionally produced programme which gives a very good impression of the club in its presentation.  Upon entry there is a sloped V shaped approach to the left which goes round a pretty memorial garden that is still under development, but adds a nice touch. 

SLOPED PLAYERS ENTRANCE ROUND THE MEMORIAL GARDEN

We opt for the small flight of steps into the clubhouse which on the approach houses a fantastic cabinet of merchandise which can be ordered online.  We have often said not enough clubs at NCL level do any merchandise and although it would be good to get something on the day this was the first time we have seen this on show and well displayed it was too.  The hallway runs out into a large function room which at its entrance to the right has a more private and picture adorned wall lounge.  The main bar area also houses a large serving hatch area for the café, which also has an external serving area too, we of course sampled two chip cobs [here refered to as I think if I remember rightly chip balms].  In the main bar there was an amazing display of framed Rugby League shirts totalling just short of 100, an impressive display.

WIGAN ST PATS MERCHANDISE DISPLAY CABINET

Following the lunch break and a little lemonade consumption a circuit of the ground was made the club have an additional pitch which is also floodlit running at a 45 degree angle to the main pitch.  The club house side of the ground is railed off with hard standing via paving stone down its full length, behind the far posts is fully grassed.  The far side is railed off again but this time is just grass standing with the dug outs split one on either touchline, behind the far side runs the Leeds Liverpool Canal, to the rear of the posts nearest to the entrance is grass standing with the main pitch and additional pitch now running behind you both railed off.

THE CLUBHOUSE

CAREFUL, MIND HOW YOU GO!

Before the game the blog spotted Leigh Miners Rangers PR man Jeff and had a nice chat with him about last weeks game a few things rugby and football.  It was interesting to hear about the rugby league clubs around the area and also a little about Atherton LR on the footballing side.  Amazingly before the game we also spotted Pete and Dave from our base town who a few weeks ago had been at Lock Lane and today found themselves at the same game again, football hoppers on tour!  Once again it was good to catch up with them and hear about their recent travels.

ST PATS DAN BIRKETT TOP KICKING TODAY

So to the game and St Pats shocked Egremont straight from the start when Dean Hatton went over after just 7.3 seconds [thanks to Terry J Gorman at St Pats for this amazing fact, superb video of this on you tube] and the conversion gave them a 6 point lead inside the first minute.  Within 5 minutes they had doubled that lead to 12-0.  St Pats continued to go over twice more before the half hour mark with both converted by Dan Birkett to take him to a 100% so far.
A minute before the break Egremont finally secured a try to give them, and the game hope, to take us to half time with a score line of 24-6.  Egremont had been a little unlucky and the majority of the tries had come from speedy breakaways.
The second half saw Egremont come out with a more determined effort and they were forcing St Pats back and a try and conversion started to reduce the arrears. 

EGREMONT RANGERS IN POSESSION

But service was soon resumed as the home side with a further 6 points include an excellent try from wide on the right touch line from Birkett.  The game swung both ways now in tries but the outstanding one came on 72 minutes from St Pats a superbly well moved ball found Earl Hurst on the left and he went over in the corner only for the reliable Birkett to convert for 6 more points.  We arrived at 80 minutes and when referee Callaghan blew for time St Pats had stormed away to a 40-22 victory.

One of the highlights of the day was the vociferous lady who in support of Egremont offered here thoughts to the referee, touch judge and St Pats players.  When play came to a stop late in the game for an attempted conversion and after a further bit of banter from the lady one St Pats players came out with the gem 'can somebody put a pie in her mouth' all taken in good humour well done everybody.

EGREMONT RANGERS MATT BREWSHER

We reversed our route to Wigan and this time departed from Wigan Wallgate station, yes this town has two stations, and after passing Atherton LR FC's Crilly Park ground we got into conversation with a fellow supporter who had been to the game.  He was travelling to sample a few brews after the game at a beer festival at Stockport County so we had a change at Oxford Rd and a smashing little conversation about rugby league, football and got into conversation about the team he followed in FC UTD of Manchester who had just the previous evening opened their new ground, Broadhurst Park, in a friendly against Benfica.
All things included a good day out with a new visit and some very interesting company at the game and along the journey too.

WIGAN WALLGATE FOR OUR DEPARTURE