FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

It was England v. France, Sang et Or v. Primrose and Blue, Gallic Charm v. Northern Grit, Catalans Dragons v. Warrington Wolves. Wembley was the venue for only the second internationally flavoured Challenge Cup Final and the prospect was for a classic game between two open rugby playing sides.

 

The Wolves came into the game as strong favourites but a resurgent Catalans Dragons, under the stewardship of Steve McNamara, had saved everything in their locker for arguably the most important game in their eighteen year history.

 

If the Dragons repeated their semi-final form then the Wolves were in for a bumpy ride, but anything other than a top drawer Catalans performance meant it was likely to be Warrington’s afternoon.

 

There were under two minutes on the clock when Lewis Tierney made the most of Stefan Ratchford spilling the first high kick of the game when he took a short pass to dive over in the corner. Josh Drinkwater kicked the touchline conversion for the start that the Frenchmen could only have dreamt of.

 

A terrific Fouad Yaha break got great field position and three tackles later the Wolves were penalised in front of their own sticks for interference at the play-the-ball. Drinkwater kicked the penalty for an 8-0 lead, the Wolves didn’t know what had hit them.

 

Tom Lineham had a fifteenth minute sliding try ruled out for an obstruction in the build up. 

 

Confusion in the Dragons defence gifted Ben Murdoch-Masila possession from a high kick on twenty-eight to go three metres to cross the line and round behind the sticks. Tyrone Roberts kicked the gift of a conversion for 6-8 on the half hour.

 

Five minutes before the interval Ben Garcia backed himself as he went under the Wolves defenders from dummy half to ground on the line. Hicks gave the try on the field and video referee Ben Thaler agreed. Drinkwater kicked his third goal of the afternoon and the Dragons had a 14-6 lead at the interval.

 

A forty-fourth minute Tony Gigot 40-20 gave the Dragons great field position and on the third tackle Branden Wiliame stepped inside and went under the tacklers to dive over the line. Drinkwater added the conversion giving the Catalans a 20-6 lead.

 

On fifty-five George King took advantage of a terrible mistake by Drinkwater in the Dragons defence as he dived and knocked-on a Brown kick through which was then picked up by Roberts who passed into the hands of the prop forward to score. Roberts added the extras and the deficit was down to eight points.

 

An unforced error from Drinkwater gifted the Wolves possession on sixty-six, just twenty from the Dragons line. On the third tackle the bullet pass hit Ben Westwood and bounced dead in goal.

 

A late tackle by Mikael Simon on Kevin Brown gifted Roberts a penalty on sixty-eight to get the Wolves back within a converted try of the Dragons at 14-20.

 

The Wolves had the best of the closing minutes but the Dragons managed to defend their line until the final hooter to secure a famous victory, against the odds, and take the trophy back to France for the first time in its long and illustrious history.

 

Tony Gigot was the winner of the Lance Todd Trophy, a deserved man of the match.

 

It was an exciting final but one that lacked finesse and skill and which was littered with errors from both sides. There were plenty of nerves on show but also the odd moment of magic from the likes of Gigot, Brown, Murdoch-Masila and Drinkwater. 

 

All credit to the Catalans Dragons, they came full of the confidence that they could win the trophy and they stuck to their game plan to secure an incredible and famous victory.

 

Allez les Dragons!

 

Dragons: Gigot, Tierney (T), Mead, Wiliame (T), Yaha, Langi, Drinkwater (4G), Simon, McIlorum, Moa, Jullien, Garcia (T), Casty. Subs: Bousquet, Baitieri, Edwards, Goudemand.

 

Wolves: Ratchford, Lineham, Goodwin, King T, Charley, Brown, Roberts (3G), Hill, Clark, Cooper, Livett, Hughes, Westwood. Subs: Murdoch-Masila (T), King G (T), Patton, Philbin.

 

Half Time: 14-6.

 

Full Time: 20-14.

 

Referee: Robert Hicks.

 

Attendance: 50,672.

 



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 25th Aug 2018 5:14 PM | Views : 36254 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
4m
Rd 6 I Cas A
The Biffs Ba
25
12m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
13m
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
Frosties.
35
32m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Wanderer
17
Recent
Ky Rodwell
Start@1873
106
Recent
Smith - should he stay or should he go
Steve0
353
Recent
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Deeeekos
3
Recent
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
Recent
Saints a
Mark_P1973
22
Recent
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
34s
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
Frosties.
35
39s
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
40s
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
55989
41s
Fevround 2
Wollo-Wollo-
89
44s
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Jack Burton
8703
47s
Smith out ASAP
Backwoodsman
138
56s
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
1m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Wanderer
17
1m
Other Championship Clubs
Trojan Horse
97
1m
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Deeeekos
3
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
Mark_P1973
22
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
The Biffs Ba
25
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Wanderer
17
TODAY
Spare Tickets Friday
post
4
TODAY
RL Podcast
AgbriggAmble
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
512
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
634
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
558
Warrington Demolish London For..
667
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
709
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
690
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
936
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
908
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1054
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1025
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1077
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1069
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3844
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1190
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1067
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist