Wigan St Pats 18 Thatto Heath Crusaders 26 (From St Helens Star)

Wigan St Pats 18 Thatto Heath Crusaders 26

3:30pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport

 Thatto Heath opened their NCL campaign with a win away at Wigan St Patricks. Thatto started the game all guns blazing as they raced to a 16-nil leads after just 9 minutes. Jack Jones was the first to score and convert as he danced round the Pats defence. Shortly after Daz Woods touched down in the corner and young Matthew Range dove in under the sticks.

The Wigan side rallied their attack to open their account as they made the most of an overlap on the left. Heath were then left to defend for the remainder of the first half but they work well keeping the locals out. On the dying seconds of the half Thatto delivered what was probably the killer blow of the game as Ryan Heaton scored to take Heath into the break 4 – 20 to the good.

The second half started just as good as the first as Kieron Maddocks scored under the sticks on 47 minutes leaving Jones an easy conversion.

The increasing gap in the score line however seemed to make Pats more determined to score and again Thatto were left to scrap it out in defence for a large part of the second half. Pats dug in and score 3 tries with no reply from Thatto but it was too little too late for the Wiganers as Thatto held on to the win and the opening two points of the season.

The Hattons Solicitors Man of the Match was awarded to Kieron Maddocks with Lucas, Jones and Kenny all close contenders.

Next week Thatto return to Pats in a repeat fixture as our opponents in the opening round of the Challenge Cup.