What a weekend...Friday 29th August...We travelled to London early morning, checked in to
The Cumberland Hotel early afternoon and relaxed in one of our rooms with a few 'bevvies' and had a few giggles trying on wigs (don't ask...but there is a story behind that!!!) before heading out for show time at West End's
Prince of Wales Theatre to see Mama Mia - an excellent evening. We then 'trecked' back the 1.7 miles to the hotel for supper and a night cap...seemed like a good idea at the time...but I had to shed my 4.5 inch heels for the last half mile!
Saturday 30th August...All woke early with the usual anxious yet excited feeling to a cloudless blue sky...a good hearty breakfast was had by all to ensure the soaking up of a full day's alcohol intake. The guys dressed as their version of 'Hawaiin Dancers' and the gals as 'Cowgirls', we caught the tube shared by a myriad of fans from
St Helens,
Hull FC,
Hull KR,
Warrington,
Wigan,
Widnes and
Harlequins all sharing thoughts and views on how the game will go with a few outbursts of the various supporters 'songs'...all fans were in good spirit and a common respect was shared(something you don't see at football matches!!!)
12:30pm and red hot sunshine greeted us at Wembley. We join the mixture of colourfully hue clad fans along 'Wembley Way' having a few bevvies on route whilst soaking up the athmosphere and the sun...
1:30pm After being interviewed by the BBC we entered the stadium, placed our bets and joined in the entertainment singing loud and proud...
2:30pm we're ready to rumble...the game starts.
Hull FC were the last team to beat Saints in the Challenge Cup...can they do it again?
The Match...1st Half...1st minute - Paul Sculthorpe is taken off injured with a dislocated shoulder injury
7th minute - Matt Gidley goes over the whitewash for Saints first try, Sean Long fails to convert
18th minute - Francis Meli does a 70 metre solo dash and scores Saints second try, this time Sean Long converts
28th minute - Willie Talau goes over in the corner, but the try was disallowed... Ganson ruled a forward pass
40th minute - Half Time: Saints 10 Hull FC 0
2nd Half...44th minute - Kirk Yeaman intercepts and does a 75 metre dash to score Hull's first try, Danny Tickle converts to make it 10-6
52nd minute - Sean Long touches down over the line, but the try is disallowed by video ref Ashley Klein ruling an illegal crossing on the build up to the try
63rd minute - Kirk Yeaman scores Hull's second try, Danny Tickle converts taking the score to Saints 10 Hull FC 12..game on!!!
65th minute - Saints retaliate with a classy second try from Francis Meli, Sean Long adds to the points - Saints 16 Hull FC 12
71st minute - Jon Wilkin goes under the posts for Saints fourth try, easily converted by Sean Long taking the score to Saints 22 Hull FC 12
74th minute - Gareth Raynor scores in the corner, once again raising hopes for Hull, Danny Tickle misses the conversion - Saints 22 Hull FC 16
76th minute - Once again Saints step up their pace when needed resulting in a try from Leon Pryce with Sean Long sealing the conversion
80th minute - there's a usual threatening of 'handbags at dawn' on the pitch (well it wouldn't be rugby without one!) when Jamie Thackray comes in with a swinging arm on Sean Long...Ganson takes control, awards Saints a penalty and the final hooter sounds.
Final Score...St Helens 28 Hull FC 16...It was survival of the fittest and Saints take home the Challenge Cup silverware for the third time in a row; with the Lance Todd Trophy going to Paul Wellans - the first player to win the trophy in successive years - what an achievement - what a team!!!
For full match report, links to Saints quotes, Hull quotes, Photos and 'as it happened' report
Click HereTo see highlights of the game
Click HereTo see St Helens reaction
Click HereTo see Hull's reaction
Click HereTeams:
St HelensWellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Hargreaves, Cunningham, Graham, Wilkin, Flannery, Sculthorpe
Subs: Gilmour, Roby, Clough, Fa'asavalu
Tries: Gidley, Meli (2), Wilkin, Pryce
Goals: Long (4)
Hull FC:Byrne, Sing, G. Horne, Yeaman, Raynor, Washbrook, Lee, Dowes, Berrigan, Cusack, Manu, Tickle, Radford
Subs: R. Horne, Carvell, Briscoe, Thackray
Tries: Yeaman (2), Raynor
Goals: Tickle (2)
Attendance: 82,821
Photo Album...
Official Photos courtesy of
Saints,
The Guardian,
BBC Sport.jpg)
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Sunday 31st August...Unbelievable change of weather today...rain, more rain and thunder storms...
Breakfast...packed up...left for home at lunchtime...
Hopefully see you next year Wembley...
Oh St Helens Rugby Come Thrill Us Again!
Saints lost out to Leeds in the Grand Final at Old Trafford tonight. Leeds retained the Super League Grand Final Trophy beating St Helens 24 - 16. Click Here for full match report. 
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