Did anyone catch the Rugby League Powegen Challenge Cup final on TV on Saturday? OK, it wasn’t an awesome game … but it was pretty compelling stuff. That Wilkin bloke must be mental; he looked a total dork with that bandage holding his nose on; but the guy’s got guts you gotta admit.
Rugby League is a one of those borderline sports in TV land … probably no one outside of the UK and the Antipodes is interested … but they’re missing one great spectacle. I’ve been to some live games and they are stunning.
With Saints being runaway leaders of the Super League and Huddersfield facing a desperate battle to retain Super League status in the coming month, this final should have been a blow-out from the beginning. It wasn’t; not by a country mile. And that is testament to the spirit and unity of the Giants’ – they fought tooth and nail throughout having shocked Saints out of their socks by taking an early six-point lead.
Yet, Saints showed the true mark of a champion in gradually clawing their way back to claim a narrow 12-6 half time lead. That lead gave them the breathing space they needed and after the break they gradually throttled the life out of the gutsy Giants in compiling a 42-12 victory.
Losing coach, Jon Sharp, is a former Saints assistant coach … and could yet find himself back at Knowsley Road as head honcho soon. Rumours that the incumbent Saints coach, Danial Anderson, is being targeted for a move to the NRL’s Sydney Roosters persist and if the Giants can’t hold onto Super League status then the Saints could do far worse than hand the reins to Sharpie.
ibridge
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