Two places synonymous with our great game, Wigan and Hull, provided the two teams for a second round Challenge Cup encounter as Wigan St Patricks hosted West Hull at Claringdon Park for the chance to progress.
National Conference Division One side St Pats beat Dewsbury Moor in the first round of the competition, while National Conference Premier Division side West Hull emerged as victors from an away clash at Pilkington Recs.
Both sides have a long and illustrious history in the amateur game as well as a good Challenge Cup pedigree with the winner of todays encounter looking for a place amongst the eleven sides who will be joined by the Betfred league one sides in the third round draw.
It was an open and end to end opening with both sides making early handling errors. West Hull should have been in for the opener on thirteen but spilled the ball with the lin begging. Two minutes later Benn Arbon broke the St Pats line and the big forward went over from ten metres. Ryan Wilson, the goal kicking front rower, was accurate with the boot for a 6-0 lead.
Lee Moss added the second on the twenty minute mark with a break down the left wing, St Pats unable to make the tackle allowed Moss to touch down behind the sticks. Wilson added the second goal of the game for 12-0.
Back to back penalties gifted West Hull third after Sam Cator was brave to get on the end of a delightful grubber kick to get a lunging hand on the ball just before it went dead in goal. Wilson added the conversion and the Humbersiders were looking comfortable for their lead.
Five minutes from the interval Danny Ryding managed to break the West Hull line to open the St Pats scoring for the afternoon. The kick was missed, the home side trailing by 4-18 at the interval.
Within ninety second of the restart St Pats were in for their secon, crashing through a lacklustre West Hull defence before adding the extras to reduce the arrears to 10-18. Ryding looked to have got his second of the game on forty-seven but the touch judge ruled a double movement.
West Hull regrouped and went on the attack with Oscar Ellerington powering over the line on fifty-one to re-establish some breathing space. Wilson added the extras for 10-24.
A delightful kick over the top in the dying seconds was taken brilliantly by Josh Nicklin to go over for the final try of the game. The kick was good to extend the lead to 30-10 as the final whistle sounded.
It was a full blooded encounter which was a credit to both sides as they slugged their way through difficult ground conditions to serve up an exciting game. The higher league side eventually triumphed but only after they survived a couple of scares from the home side. West Hull progress into the hat and will be hoping for a League One side in the third round draw.
Wigan St Patricks Scorers: Ryding, ? - ? (1 goal).
West Hull Scorers: Arbon, Cator, Ellerington, Moss, Nicklin – Wilson (5 Goals).
Referee: Sebastian Chromiak.
Half-Time: 4-18.
Full-Time: 10-30.
Attendance: .