A look back at Warrington’s one and only final win over Wigan to date

They say records are there to be broken – and Warrington Wolves will certainly be hoping that’s the case tomorrow.

As they make their final preparations to take on Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, they do so knowing their finals record against their near neighbors is pretty miserable.

There has been just one previous Challenge Cup final between them – a 36-14 Wigan win in 1990 – but in all competitions the two clubs have met in 12 finals.

They were all won by Wigan bar one and it is that game – the 1980 Lancashire Cup Final – that we look back on today courtesy of Gary Slater…

WARRINGTON fans used to love the Lancashire Cup.

After all, we won it on nine occasions, beating St Helens (three times), Oldham (twice), Salford, Barrow, Rochdale Hornets and Wigan in the final.

The victory over Wigan at Knowsley Road on Saturday 4th October 1980 was particularly special.

Wigan had been relegated the previous season. I’m going to write this again in case you didn’t believe me the first time. Wigan had been relegated the previous season but made a resurgence under their new player-coach George Fairbairn and beat ‘Cup Kings’ Widnes 14-10 at Naughton Park in the semi-finals.

They and their fans were confident of causing another upset but were crushed 26-10 by a ruthless Wire side.

Steve Hesford, playing on the wing, kicked a penalty in the first minute to calm Warrington’s nerves and from the restart second row Tommy Martyn charged 60 yards to score in the corner.

Unsung hero Tony Waller, the Wire hooker, then created tries for Welsh center John Bevan and winger Rick Thackray to claim the man of the match award and help Warrington to a 17-2 lead after just 18 minutes. And remember, tries were still only worth three points.

Wigan’s only points came from a penalty from Fairbairn, who was Wigan’s full-back, captain and player-coach.

Hesford stretched their lead to 19-2 before Fairbairn scored a try before the break and a penalty soon after to make things interesting.

Another penalty from Hesford restored order before Wigan winger Dennis Ramsdale scored his second try to make it 21-10 with 20 minutes remaining.

Fittingly, Hesford had the last word as he landed in the corner after Bevan and Martyn failed. The try took his tally to 17 (one try and seven goals) to set a new record for a Lancashire Cup Final.

The only disappointment was the attendance – a meager 6,279. By comparison, the Yorkshire Cup final between Hull Kingston Rovers and Leeds drew a crowd of 9,751 to Huddersfield’s Fartown ground.

Stand-off Ken Kelly collected the famous old trophy for Warrington and lifted the John Player trophy three months later. Warrington, coached by 35-year-old Billy Benyon, were the team to beat.

The Lancashire Cup triumph remains the only time Warrington have beaten Wigan in a final. But that could all change at Wembley when Wire will be coached by another 35-year-old in Sam Burgess.

Warrington: Derek Finnigan; Rick Thackray, Ian Duane, John Bevan, Steve Hesford; Ken Kelly, Alan Gwilliam; Neil Courtney, Tony Waller, Brian Case, Tommy Martyn, Bob Eccles, Eddie Hunter. Sub: Ian Potter for Bob Eccles. Non-playing substitute: Tony Worrall

Wigan: George Fairbairn; Dennis Ramsdale, David Willicombe, Steve Davies, Jim Hornby; Martin Foy, Les Bolton; Steve Breheny, John Pendlebury, Steve O’Neill, Billy Melling, John Clough, Terry Hollingsworth. Subs: Bernard Coyle for Bolton, Malcolm Smith for Pendlebury

Referee: Gerry Kershaw (Easingwold)