Wigton took advantage of Moor’s hesitant start to this third round EDF Energy Senior Vase to stamp their authority on the tie. Two successful penalty kicks and two tries by their large forwards put them in control with 10 minutes of the half remaining. Moor had scored a try early on from scrum-half Felipe Silva, following good approach work by the two Martins – Snidal and Shelley – and it was Silva, with the interval approaching, who was then involved in Moor’s next try when he took a quick tap-penalty to feed No. 8 Nick Smith on the burst to crash over, to make the half-time score 16-10 to the visitors.

The home momentum was continued from the restart as Moor took the lead from another quickly taken penalty by Silva, this time setting up centre Petr Stourac to crash over, for Shelley to convert. Moor’s three-quarter line continued to cause problems as they probed the visitor’s defences, centre Phil Thomas breaking tackles for a try after 25 minutes, which put them 22-16 ahead. Wigton replied with a try as their pack drove over from a line-out, which left them 1 point behind. With normal time running out, another good three-quarter move was finished off in the corner only for the referee to deny it, but from the restart Wigton were penalised on half-way and Shelley put over a massive kick, for Moor to lead 25-21. A penalty kick to touch took Wigton into the home 22 where they camped for 7 minutes of added-on time, being awarded a succession of penalties. A final short-range drive got them over for a single point victory to take them into the fourth round, leaving Moor very frustrated at the manner of their defeat.

This week, Moor return to league action at home to Aldwinians, k.o. 2:15 pm.