Warrington Wolves 25 - 16 Huddersfield Giants
Warrington Wolves ended their 35 year wait to get their hands on the Carnegie Challenge Cup with a 25-16 victory over Huddersfield Giants at Wembley.
It was the first cup final in 23 years that didn't include St Helens, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls or Wigan Warriors - the game's traditional big four - and a crowd of 76,560 fans packed into the stadium for the big occassion. Huddersfield, who last triumphed at Wembley in 1953, were a shadow of the side that defeated holders St Helens in the semi-finals and it was the Wolves in primrose and blue who were able to find their best form on the day and bring home the Challenge Cup to Warrington.
The game started quickly with a try from Richard Mathers in the opening minutes of the game giving Wolves the perfect start. Huddersfield then leveled thanks to the pace of Shaun Lunt when he finished off a break by captain David Hodgson. Warrington then took the lead again with two tries in just five minutes and would have been home and dry before half time had Matt King not been denied a try for ball stealing.
Whilst Huddersfield's David Hodgson scored a consolation try in the second half, the Giants quickly lost direction after losing Kevin Brown to a knee injury. Wolves' Vinnie Anderson brought home the winning try and Lee Briers had the final say with his 60th drop goal for his club sealing Warrington's first Wembley win since 1974.
The Lance Todd Trophy for Man of the Match was awarded to Wolves' Michael Monaghan.
Giants: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Whatuira, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Mason, Lunt, Griffin, Fulton, Wild, Faiumu
Interchanges: Crabtree, Jackson, Moore, Aspinwall
Wolves: Mathers, Hicks, Bridge, King, Riley, V. Anderson, Briers, Morley, Monaghan, Carvell, L. Anderson, Harrison, Westwood
Interchanges: Cooper, Johnson, Higham, McCarthy