Features

Smith ends Wolves' drought

Author: John Harris
Date: 01/09/2009
Rugby League betting

Tony Smith showed why he is one of rugby league's best coaches by guiding Warrington Wolves to their first Challenge Cup success for 35 years with an entertaining 25-16 victory against Huddersfield Giants.

Warrington are struggling to reach the play-offs after making a dreadful start to the season but have improved as the campaign has gone on and have saved their best displays for the knockout competition.

Australian Smith, who is also the current England coach, previously enjoyed a successful stint in charge of Leeds Rhinos, the online favourites to win another Grand Final in October.

He guided the Wolves to a thoroughly deserved success at Wembley against a team that is fourth in the Super League table.

It was the first time since 1986, when Castleford beat Hull KR, that one of the big four - St Helens, Leeds, Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors - had not been involved in the Challenge Cup Final but it was a high-quality match.

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The game got off to a whirlwind start with four tries in the opening 15 minutes of the encounter, three of them to the Wolves.

Smith's side made the perfect start when, after only 70 seconds, Richie Mathers crashed over under the posts after Brett Hodgson's kick had been charged down by Louis Anderson.

However, the Giants responded well and, in the ninth minute, Brett Hodgson made the break before setting up Shaun Lunt to use his pace to reach the try line, Brett Hodgson adding the two points to make it 6-6.

However, three minutes later Warrington regained the lead when Michael Monaghan forced his way over from close range and it got worse for the West Yorkshire side in the 14th minute when winger Chris Hicks went over in the corner.

The match finally settled down and Brett Hodgson reduced the deficit with a try two minutes before half-time to make it 18-10 at the break.

The second period was a much tighter affair but the match was over as a contest on the hour mark when Vinnie Anderson pounced to go under the posts from ten yards to put Warrington 24-10 ahead.

Although David Hodgson scored a late try that Brett Hodgson converted, it proved to be little more than a consolation for Huddersfield.

It was Warrington's first success since they beat Featherstone Rovers in the 1974 Final while Huddersfield's last victory came in 1953 when they edged past St Helens.

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