The Regal Trophy Final is remembered often as a dull game, possibly due to the score line and freezing weather, it was actually and intriguing match with Warrington playing an expansive game against a heavyweight Bradford pack they should have won by a clear score but poor handling at decisive moments cost them several tries and opportunities. Player coach David Hobbs gave his side an early advantage with two points from his trusty boot. From there on it was nearly all Warrington.
With five new recruits from Rugby Union on the pitch with only a handful of games each under their belts, it was Wire's Kevin Ellis and Allen Bateman who would come out on top fellow Welshman Gerald Cordle and Kiwi Brett Iti. It was the long passing and energy of Ellis that sent the elusive Bateman away down the right, but his pass from Roger Simpson's despairing recovery tackle couldn't be held by Drummond.
Gary Mercer this time skinned Simpson and went rampaging down the right from a quick tap on his 22 to set Wire up in the danger zone and they looked to make Bradford pay until Chambers fumbled his offload in the tackle with the Cullen and Thorniley both supporting in the gap.
Mark Forster earned a penalty for holding down giving David Lyon his first shot at goal but he pushed his attempt wide of the posts. Still 2 nil but Wire were the better team.
Forster again was held down, this time ten yards further forward and Lyon,
taking over the duties from semi final hero Chris Rudd who had pulled out through injury, levelled the scores.
Bradford were struggling to hold Warrington and this time former Great Britain captain Brian Noble was penalised for holding Kevin Ellis down as Northern continued to back peddle. Lyon made it 4-2 with a simple kick.
With halftime looming Bradford made their first break of the game, captain Pendlebury put Medley away, with Lyon and Forster having to combine to bring the big second rower down five yards out and concede a penalty in the process. Hobbs opted to go for touch rather that attempt a two pointer from so wide out. This didn't go as planned for the Yorkshiremen. Strong defence on the Wire line saw the ball then moved wide to Marchant but the former Great Britain and Castleford winger was launched off of his feet, and by several feet, by Wire's granite winger Des Drummond, who had earlier knocked back Iti. Therein Marchant's game was over, having to be substituted with concussion. 4-2 at halftime and surely only a matter of time before Warrington breached the Bradford try line.
Having played a robust and outstanding first 40 minutes Gary Chambers was rested at halftime and replaced by Mark Thomas, last season's semi final hero who would become this final's hero.
Wire continued to take the game to Northern and soon after the break they broke from deep with good handling and support play the ball ended wide in corner but again Bateman's offload was spilt by Drummond and another chance went begging.
With ten minutes to go Cordle was eventually given some room to run by Summers but was soon denied by Ellis and Thorniley to deny him and Bradford their last chance of a four pointer. Former Canberra Grand Final winner Chris O'Sullivan was having a steadying influence on the Wire attack
and his beautiful blind pass nearly put Harmon storming under the posts if not for Pendlebury spotting a move that nobody else had. Lyon soon steadied the fans nerves with another penalty to make it 6-2.
Then finally the try came. Bradford's penalty kick for touch didn't go out of play and Wire returned the kick with vigour and vengeance. From the right side of the pitch to the left and back again Ellis once more put Bateman away and he set the position for O'Sullivan to step up and dummy to Thomas, and dart through the gap left by Medley and gave Thomas the ball who from 15 yards out stepped fullback Wilkinson and dove to score depite the incoming Pendlebury. The roof came off of Headingly.
Finally Wire had scored a well deserved and overdue try. Lyon easily converted and the Trophy was ours.
The hooter sounded and jubilant Wire fans swarmed the pitch, McGinty got the nod for man of the match in what was a super team performance, Brian Johnson had made it two final wins out of three and Des Drummond became the last Wire captain to lift a trophy for the next 18 years.
30 сен 2024
