TRAFFORD MV suffered a second defeat of the North Lancs/Cumbria Division campaign when they went down 32-27 to Wigton at MacPherson Park.

The visitors opened with a strong wind behind them during the first half and early pressure gave them a kickable penalty inside the Trafford half, full-back Gregg Smith taking advantage of the wind to give Wigton a 3-0 lead inside the first minute.

Trafford, without four regulars, rallied and forced a penalty in front of the posts with Pat Eccles levelling the game on nine minutes.

Heavy Wigton pressure saw MV struggle to get out of their half and good possession gave Smith an opportunity to score a try in the corner, though the conversion was missed.

MV kept ball in hand and pushed forward and missed tackles from Wigton enabled the home team to score a converted try through stand-off Stuart Crampton, with Eccles converting giving the hosts a slender lead of 10-8 after 16 minutes.

Smith added a further penalty on 22 minutes and, following the first scrum of the game on 24 minutes, he was on hand to score his second try which he converted to give the visitors a half-time lead of 18-10 after MV missed a late penalty.

After the break, Wigton's heavier forward pack delivered the backs with good ball resulting in Smith scoring his third try which he duly converted on 49 minutes.

Trafford were never out of the game, however, and following a period of sustained pressure Wigton's Mark Deans was shown a yellow card for not retreating 10 metres and MV seized the opportunity.

Within the space of five minutes MV scored two converted tries through Crampton and then number eight Danny Burke with Eccles converting both to reduce the arrears to 25-24 with 14 minutes still to play.

MV then suffered a yellow card themselves when young Henry Brownlow was carded for dissent.

As Trafford pressed to take the upper hand, a fumble on the halfway line enabled Aaron Henderson to kick through before a further kick knocked the ball over the line and Henderson managed to touch the ball down to give Wigton a fourth try, converted by Smith.

Trafford fought back and forced a penalty in front of the posts to bring them within five points.

But, despite conceding two penalties within 10 metres of the line, the solid green line of Wigton defenders put in some tremendous tackles and kept Trafford from scoring.

Wigton's Smith having scored 25 points and making two try-stopping tackles was justifiably the Wigton man of the match. MV travel to Upper Eden in Cumbria this weekend.