After months of preparations, match day finally arrived on a scorching Maundy Thursday in the ancient borough of Wigan. ‘The Fight’ had announced their intentions to tour in November 2010 and took up the challenge to play Wigan Riversiders almost immediately, the game catching plenty attention locally as the first ever game on English soil between teams from their respect continents. The Philadelphia boys demonstrated in advance their tremendous character in playing a game a mere 30 hours after flying across the Atlantic!
The teams entered the field side-by-side to the strains of Jerusalem and lined up for introductions to the mayor followed by national anthems, the Philadelphia boys clear pride in their shirt showing through as they clutched their team badges and belted out the anthem. And so to the match.
There had been much speculation in the Wigan camp at the size and physical nature of the tourists and if any lingering doubts remained, they were immediately dispelled on the first contact, Philly kicking the ball to 20 stone Wigan captain Martyn Cheetham who was met by a fierce wall of defence as he returned the kick. Wigan made good ground up field but soon found themselves on the defensive, the Philly team making the most of a couple of penalties to pound the Wigan line with their huge pack. Relief for the Wiganers as a double movement was ruled and a 20 metre tap allowed them to clear their lines. A penalty awarded for a high shot in the visitors 20 allowed Wigan to open the scoring, Martyn Cheetham landing a penalty for an early 2-0 lead.
And it was to get better for the Riversiders, buoyed by their early defensive endeavours, efforts turned to attack and a nice flowing move to the right saw the ball in the hands of winger Alex Rigby. Still with plenty to do, the big winger fended off 2 challenges before crashing over out wide. Conversion missed but an early 6-0 lead.
Questions were now being asked of the Fight as they started to understandably look fatigued from their long journey and twice Wigan worked the overlap before putting the ball down for a turnover with the tryline at their mercy. Fight captain Phil Shipos has seen enough, the pacey Aussie commandeering the ball on the halfway line, a sublime sidestep putting him in the clear and a fend taking out the chasing defence. Only the fullback to beat, but a textbook tackle from full back Greg Brown saving the day for the Riversiders. The Fight now had their tails up and twice more broke the line, John Evangelista and Rich Henson showing great pace and creativity to put barnstorming longsnapper Dan Gabrielli into some fierce collisions.
However, it was the Riversiders who scored next to extend the lead, the try of the game going once again to Alex Rigby, taking the ball on his wing on the halfway line showing pace and power to round 3 defenders and cut inside to the posts. Stand-out Riversiders full back Greg Brown adding the extras. 12-0 to Wigan.
The Philadelphia boys are, however, made of stern stuff and it if the pace of winger Rigby was troubling them out wide, they were giving nothing away up the middle of the park. Some powerful running from T. Brad Kielinski setting up a well deserved and well taken try that was duly converted for the teams to go to half time with all to play for at 12-6.
Time for this match reporter to speak to the crowd and the sponsors and gage a response to the 40 minutes action they had seen. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, the fitness and strength of the Philadelphia players wowing the knowledgeable rugby public of Wigan and their commitment to the cause after falling behind well noted. The Trans-Atlantic challenge was a hit and rugby league USA style had arrived in Wigan!
Back to the action and it was Wigan who took the initiative shortly into the second half, creative play from Wigan half’s Danny Gregory and Scott Dean generating field position for who other than winger Rigby to charge over from 5 metres from dummy half to complete a hat-trick. The kick from wide out was missed.
The next 20 minutes of the game were all Philadelphia, their powerful forwards and hard working backs pressuring Wigan in attack, Riversiders hooker Phil King throwing out a wild long ball that was snapped up by Pat Darby to race 50 yards before handing on for a score out wide, the Fight crucially missing the conversion. And more was to come as again the Fight, forcing Wigan to kick from their own 40 cleaned up a poor chip kick to run the ball in at the left hand corner. Another missed conversion but it was now a 2 point ball game and some very nervous Riversiders faces on the touchline.
Deep into the final quarter and with field position see-sawing between both ends of the field, it was Riversiders powerhouse prop forward Neil Savage who finally put some daylight between the two sides under the floodlights of Robin Park Arena, good build-up play from Simon Atherton allowing big Savage to barge onto the ball, his sheer bulk displacing the Fight defence for the match winning score to the left of the posts. A conversion from Cheetham and a drop goal from Riversiders 7 Danny Gregory for good measure giving a final score of 23-14 to the Wigan Riversiders.
An absorbing contest and one thoroughly enjoyed by the 600 strong crowd. The American tourists did themselves proud, giving nothing in defence or attack for the full 80, the difference between the teams a single try, the experience of the Wigan halves in getting the ball wide to pace men perhaps being the overall difference between the two sides. And so to the aftermatch party where the American boys showed up well after being introduced to English beer, several – including popular ‘longsnapper’ Dan Gabrielli opting to stay long after the team bus had left to enjoy socialising with their new friends at the Riversiders! Will the Riversiders visit Philadelphia to defend their title? Watch this space….
