Wigan St Judes’ remarkable 38–26 comeback win over West Bowling has only strengthened the feeling around Parsons Meadow that they can mix it with the best in the NCRL Premier Division.
After being 22–0 down at half-time — and looking a long way off the pace — St Judes came out swinging in the second half, piling on 38 unanswered points in a turnaround that felt as much about attitude as anything tactical.
For winger Reece McNally, the shift was simple: tighten up, dig in, and stop giving Wests freebies.
“We were certainly a little bit slower in the first half and they rolled us a little bit through the middle,” McNally said.
“Second half though, I think we were just a completely different team. We completed a lot better, tackled hard and really pinned them in.”
The afternoon couldn’t have started much worse. West Bowling crossed almost straight from the kick-off, leaving Judes chasing the game before they’d even settled into their shape. McNally didn’t hide from it.
“It was probably just a little bit of a lack of concentration maybe. We’ve started slowly once or twice this season and that’s something we probably need to address. But it was obviously a good response from the boys.”
That response, he admits, came after a fairly blunt half-time message from head coach Dave Myerscough — the kind that doesn’t need repeating to know exactly how it sounded.
“He gave us a bit of a rocket to be fair,” McNally said. “He definitely got a reaction off the lads and you could see that in the second half. We deserved to win in the end and a lot of it came from that half-time speech.”
The win keeps Judes moving in the right direction in their first season back at the top level, and McNally believes they’re showing they belong.
“As a team I think we’re competing well. I definitely think we can push for a playoff place and once you get in there, it’s three games and anyone can do it. We just need to compete every single week and I definitely think we can be up there with some of the top sides.”
He also pointed to the step up in intensity compared to the division below — a difference that punishes any lapse.
“You can’t be coughing the ball up inside your own 20 or 30 metres and giving teams good field position. The speed of the game, the completion rates and the skill levels are all a step up from the division below.”
Next up is a tough away trip to Heworth, a side who’ll be desperate to respond after a heavy defeat last time out. McNally knows it won’t be straightforward.
“It’s always difficult playing away in this division, but I definitely think we’re more than capable of going there and winning.”
National Conference League Results – Saturday 13 June
Premier Division
Heworth 0–60 West Hull
Lock Lane 26–24 York Acorn
Siddal 26–12 Hunslet ARLFC
Thatto Heath Crusaders 36–10 Rochdale Mayfield
Waterhead Warriors 60–10 Wath Brow Hornets
Wigan St Judes 38–26 West Bowling
Division One
Dewsbury Celtic 22–18 Dewsbury Moor Maroons
Egremont Rangers 24–38 Leigh Miners Rangers
Kells 74–18 Pilkington Recs
Oldham St Annes 12–32 Oulton Raiders
Shaw Cross Sharks 10–4 Stanningley
Wigan St Patricks 24–20 East Leeds
National Conference Cumbria
Ulverston 6–50 Millom
Barrow Island 12–42 Dalton
Ellenborough Rangers 72–16 Hindpool Tigers
Hensingham 22-22 Maryport
National Conference North West
Ashton Bears 20–24 Crosfields
Blackbrook 24–18 Woolston Rovers
Clock Face Miners 12-26 Orrell St James
Leigh East 16–28 Ince Rose Bridge
National Conference South
Bedford Tigers 66–12 Brentwood Eels
Eastern Rhinos 26–60 Wests Warriors
London Chargers 36–18 Bristol All Golds
National Conference Yorkshire A
Bradford Dudley Hill 50–18 Moldgreen
Drighlington 30–18 King Cross Park
Stanley Rangers 16–66 Keighley Albion
Thornhill Trojans 32–40 Myton Warriors
National Conference Yorkshire B
Bentley 24–24 Newsome Panthers
Featherstone Lions 42–10 Kippax Welfare
Hull Dockers 12–52 Fryston Warriors
Normanton Knights 10–22 Milford
Skirlaugh 16–4 Siddal Academy
