The first quarter was played out between the 22s with neither team coming close to a breakthrough. Ground conditions were treacherous so that game was very stop-start with players losing their footing and, even more often, the slippery ball. Manchester missed the first chance of a score as a penalty just outside the 22 went wide. A second attempt from a similar position was soon awarded, this time the ball hitting the post as the home side became more assertive, in terms of both territory and possession.

Manchester’s pack certainly had the measure of Wigan’s, even taking a scrum against the head as the visitors struggled for a platform. The lineouts were also working well with Karl Higginson pinpointing Luke Tyrrell as the main jumper, despite the blustery weather. Although dominating the set pieces, the weather conspired to made it difficult for the backs to actually use the ball to good effect.

It took until the half hour point before Manchester crossed the line when James Brodie as a hard running centre, seized upon a Matt Barker break and pass and had the speed and strength to simply barge through the crowded defence to make it 5-0.

The half time break was arrived at without any more drama, but it was safe to say that Manchester were well on top with not only a determined defence, but also the weather hampering their efforts to score.

It came as a bit of surprise therefore, when from the restart a flurry of open rugby broke out! Wigan were the beneficiaries from a careless Manchester restart when to their credit they threw the ball around and, courtesy of a couple of missed tackles, entered Manchester’s 22 for the first time to touch down under the posts and take an unlikely 5-7 lead.

Manchester reacted well and several times went through an impressive number of phases, despite the weather worsening, so that they were soon back in the Wigan half and again looking for an opening. A kickable penalty was rejected for a kick to touch – the outcome predictable and productive as a catch-and-drive was set up for the advancing pack to inevitably score in the corner and regain the lead at 10-7 with fifteen minutes of the half played.

Any sort of score was going to be at a premium on a day like this, but that proved elusive and when Wigan were awarded a penalty after another quarter of an hour of tough but fruitless effort, posts were signalled despite the distance. An excellent strike in the conditions levelled the game at 10-10 so that it began to dawn that a game largely dominated by the home side could actually slip away.

Manchester wanted the win and continued to put Wigan under pressure but their well organised defence refuse to be broken down. With barely five minutes left on the clock, Manchester were camped in the Wigan 22 until desperate defence resulted in a penalty, again in a kickable position. Perhaps out of sympathy for the kicker, Brian Ndlovu decided that risk wasn’t worth it, tapped the ball quickly and forced his way over the line for the decisive score, converted with considerably less pressure to 17-10.

Credit should be given to both sides (and the spectators for turning out of course!) for their commitment on a difficult pitch that kept the result in doubt to the end.