WITH up to seven potential firs team players either injured or unavailable, this game was always going to be a difficult task.

Gary Smith played a strong game after being called up during the week and then having to move position in the first 5 minutes with an injury to Ridgeon at scrum half. More injuries caused more and more reshuffling and the use of all the Ruskin substitutes before half time.

Ruskin defended strongly against extended periods of attack by the strong running Wigan back row and then through some weak refereeing decisions and some poor Ruskin tackling gave away a try just before halftime, with a penalty already on the board, it was 10-0 at the break.

Ruskin threw all their heart into the start of the second half but the luck just would'nt fall their way and some strong driving play just couldn't get any points on the board. More really strong running by Jonny Howden kept Ruskin in the game but another poor referee decision for a blatant deliberate knock on by Wigan which foiled a definite try under the posts seemed to finally kill off the Ruskin spirit.

More injuries followed and Wigan turned the screw running in a couple tries to make the result look flattering at 30-0.

Some huge positives for Ruskin are that they are competing against the best in this league holding their own against two of the top four in Hoylake and Wigan. There was no hiding that today was not our strongest 18, but everyone gave their all and with a bit of luck or a refereeing decision or two we may just have managed to get a hold on the game. But all credit to Wigan they were the deserved winners.