Wigan Riversiders RLC 34 - 22 Ashton Bears 'A'.
This was always going to be a tough test for the Ashton 'A' side and so it proved as they went down 34-22 against a Riversiders side who ultimately had too much nouse for the inexperienced Bears. Scoring almost immediately from the kick off the Riversiders threatened to give Ashton a torrid afternoon but gradually Ashton worked their way back into the game with a well taken score turning some good defence into a scoring opportunity. The Riversiders hit back almost immediately to extend their lead and turn round at half time 20-4 to the good. The second half saw that score extended with Ashton again slow to get going. When they eventually did, a well executed score brought the score closer. The hot afternoon began to make it hard going for all of the players, not helped by a series of controvsersial decisions by the referee, sinbinning a player from both sides in quick sucession. Ashton went on to score two quick tries to bring the scores closer again. Right at the death the Riversiders stomed up the field and scored under the posts to finally put the game beyond Ashton reach.
Credit again to both sides for a hard fought and hard hitting game played in good spirits throughout, hopefully they can take encouragement from this as both look forward to their forthcoming summer league campaigns.
