Wigton 12, Bradford & Bingley 24: Bradford & Bingley bounced back from their disappointing home defeat by Stockton to record another hard-fought Thwaites North One win.

Wigton gained all the early possession and only grim defence from the Bees kept the home side at bay.

Their defiance was rewarded when Matt Inman converted a 12th minute penalty and they extended their lead a minute later.

A poor clearance from the home side was collected by the Bees' forwards. The ball was swiftly moved across the three-quarters for winger Andy Woodhead to score.

Back came Wigton, their forward plays forcing the Bees to concede penalties, and scrum half Kevin Bethwaite successfully converted three in succession on to put his side 9-8 up.

The Bees hung on and began to show signs of what they can do and two minutes from the interval Inman regained the lead with a penalty.

The visitors had to face the stiff breeze and the sun in the second half but within minutes stand off Richard Petyt had opened the defence with a direct run, but the try from Mark Thomas was disallowed due to a forward pass.

Wigton replied with a 46th minute penalty as they regained the lead.

The signs were ominous but the Bees failed to read them. They summoned up the spirit and confidence which had been missing from the last two games.

Led on by a powerful display from stand-in scrum half Ho-ward Greenwood, the home side began to wilt in the face of some terrific forward play.

It was Greenwood himself who gained a 56th minute try from a five-metre line-out

The visitors' tails were up as the Wigton pack toiled to contain the opposition's forward drives, every player wanted the ball as a real mauling was being dished out.

The decisive score came when centre Steve Brima-combe stepped out of two tackles to put prop Richard Thomas over for an unconverted try.

Wigton were put to the sword in the final ten minutes and reacted in the 75th minute when another unstoppable Bees' forward drive resulted in a brawl.

Ben Grange and a Wigton locked were yellow carded, before Inman put the icing on the victory with a 77th minute penalty.

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