Wigan beat Warrington to win the Challenge Cup

Betfred Challenge Cup Final

Warrington (2) 8

Try: Dufty Objectives: Thewlis 2

Wigan (12) 18

Try: Eckersley, French, Farrell Objectives: Smith 3

Bevan French produced a midfield performance that the late Rob Burrow would have been proud of as Wigan Warriors beat Warrington Wolves at Wembley to win the Challenge Cup.

The Frenchman of the match scored the first of Wigan’s three tries for Zach Eckersley before scoring a brilliant second as the Warriors extended their dominance over the Wire in the grand finals.

Wigan skipper Liam Farrell – a cup winner in 2011, 2013 and 2022 – then iced the latest cherry and white cake with his first try in a final.

Matt Dufty caused mild ruckus by pulling back a try with a quarter of an hour from time, but Wigan held on for just their third win at Wembley in nearly three decades.

For all they achieved in that amazing run of eight consecutive Wembley Challenge Cup wins from 1988 to 1995, Wigan have only won twice in English football since – in 2011 and 2013 – when the other two cup wins they came to Edinburgh (2002). ) and Tottenham (2022).

Matt Peet’s side now hold all four major honors in the League Leaders’ Shield, the Super League title, the World Club Challenge and this record-extending 21st Challenge Cup triumph.

On a day when English rugby combined to remember one of the Burrow’s true greats, it was still fitting that the revered Lance Todd Trophy should go to a half-back such as Wigan’s star French Australian .

The 64,845 Wembley crowd – the largest for a Challenge Cup final since 2017 – observed an impeccably observed minute’s silence before kick-off and again seven minutes into the match in honor of the shirt he wore carried the legend Leeds Rhinos.

But until then, the game got off to its most dramatic start when referee Chris Kendall issued two yellow cards in the first three minutes – both harsh.

Wire boy Mike Cooper was the first to go in in just the second minute for a big challenge as he lost his balance. And when Dufty did the same, Kendall was forced to take out his card again to even things out.

It was 13 a team again when Josh Thewlis put Wire ahead with a penalty before a classy French touch set Wire up for the game’s opening try.

The Aussie waited coolly before placing his shot to perfection for Eckersley, replacement for the banned Adam Keighran, to touch down – and Harry Smith duly struck the first of his three conversions.

Then just six minutes later, with Wigan sitting at the Wire’s end after a poor Matty Ashton spill, it was again – this time a solo effort from the Frenchman as he got to the line and, although challenged, had his presence. think about landing while facing backwards.

His next finish just on the stroke of half-time was even more sensational as he somehow wound his arm around to score after writhing.

But it was decided “DO NOT TRY” – rightly so as it turned out, as his elbow had already hit the floor and it was clearly a double move. However, he was actually ruled out for not getting a proper ground connection, which he appeared to have done.

It wasn’t until almost halfway through the second half that Wigan scored again – with what looked to be a third try when Farrell raced clear to score one of his trademark breakaway tries down the left, wriggling- acrobatically to complete the score.

Warrington briefly had hope when Dufty came through to score 15 minutes later.

Another try would have made it interesting, but the Wire never came close again – and the Warriors won their third cup in three years.

Wire made to suffer the final tear of the cup – again

Warrington and Wigan have only met in a Challenge Cup final before – in 1990 in the third leg of Wigan’s imperious eight-year run at Wembley.

But Wire had also been beaten three times by Wigan in three Grand Finals at Old Trafford in 2013, a second time in 2016 and then again in 2018.

They were at least first and last on the scoreboard this time, Thewlis putting the men in primrose and blue ahead with his early penalty – and the winger also hit the goal when Dufty crossed for his late try.

But once Wigan got in front, Wire looked unlikely to return as he failed to deal with the full extent of the Frenchman’s footwork and manual prowess.

It was a particular disappointment for Wigan boys George Williams and Sam Powell, who came off the bench, and manager Sam Burgess.

Failing to win this trophy as a player in his three years with the Bradford Bulls before heading to Australia, he would have redeemed himself by claiming a trophy in his first season back in England as a manager. And of course, with the Wire usefully placed in Super League, just two points behind second-placed Wigan, it still can.

Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell told BBC Sport:

“There are only a handful of teams that have ever held all four trophies, so it’s a very big achievement for ourselves. We are in a very good place.

“The club is iconic when it comes to the Challenge Cup – and we’ll continue to do so. We’ll celebrate that, but it’s back to business afterwards.

“When I was young, it was all about winning that first trophy. I had a little bit of success when I was younger, but now with this group of players – with youth, a great mix of talent and some seriousness there, like Well, to go out there and lead the 17 players is a big thing for me.

“And it’s up to Matty Peet. He brought culture back down to earth where it should be.”

Warrington head coach Sam Burgess told BBC Sport:

“This is not a failure for us. It is a step forward. We had 12 players who had never played a final before.

“I’m disappointed with the players. We worked hard to get here. But we just didn’t get our game.

“Probably the opportunity came a little bit for us. By the time I got into it, it was a little too late.

“Next time we go there, we’ll have 12 experienced players who have felt that emotion and pressure. We’ll only be better for it.”

Warrington: Dufty; Thewlis, King, Tai, Ashton; Williams, Drinking Water; Harrison, Walker, Vaughan, Nicholson, Fitzgibbon, Currie.

Exchanges: Bullock, Musgrove, Crowther, Powell.

Sin-bin: Dufty (3).

Wigan: Field, Miski, Eckersley, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Cooper, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.

Exchanges: Havard, Byrne, Mago, Leeming.

Sin-bin: Cooper (2).

Referee: Chris Kendall.