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| Thursday December 21st 2006 |
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| Saints & Wigan Clash In HALBRO Lancashire Cup Final |
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The HALBRO Lancashire County Cup Final takes place at 2.00pm Wednesday 27th December at Liverpool St Helens RUFC when holders Blackbrook take on Wigan St Cuthberts.
In a ‘Saints v Wigan’ derby of old at this time of the year Wigan St Cuthberts of the Mark Norris Building Services Fist Division take on the St Helens based side who are in the Premier Division of that league. As currently in Super League clashes between the two great clubs the Wigan side will go into the clash as underdogs.
Wigan St Cuthberts go into the Final currently top of their respective division having only lost one game this season after having been relegated the previous season and side coached by John Duffy has pulled of some great higher division scalps on their way to the Final.
The draw saw them on their travel in the opening rounds of the Cup campaign and they defeated Division 1 rivals Halton Farnworth Hornets 40-4 in Round One and Premier Division side Orrell St James 28-18 in Round Two. In the Quarter Final they had home advantage against another Premier Division side Rylands of Warrington and overcame those 18-12, and in the Semi Final they entertained Division Two side Wigan St Judes defeating them 15-6.
Seven years in charge of the side coach John Duffy is in a buoyant mood although not having the best of records recently over Blackbrook and is aware they go into the final as underdogs, “We have played them six times over the last three years and the honours have gone to them on those occasions but we have beaten Blackbrook in the past. We know they are a quality side and if you look at the League Tables it tells you that. We are going into the final in a confident, buoyant mood, it should be a good game and we are expecting to do a job on them on the day.
“We are definitely the underdogs and that’s how we want to go in, we want to be up against the odds. I am hoping we go in there and give a performance and all I am concerned about is how we play. I’m not bothered about what they want to do, if we go there and put in a performance like I know we can we’ve got every chance of coming away with a result and another shock and giant killing win.”
He is aware that Blackbrook coach Mark Lee watched his side at the weekend but knows there is no fear in his young side,
“There is no fear in this young side and these lads want to play, they have got the will to play and hopefully they will pay some rugby. That is what we are all about we are looking to go out there and put on a show and come away from St Helens with the Cup.
“Mark Lee was here at the weekend watching us as their game was postponed but I think Mark will only be bothered about his side and concerned about what his side are going to do. That is all he can do and what we do is out of his hands and what he does is out of my hands. I think he knows what a good side he’s got there and he will be confident.”
John is looking forward to the wide pitch at Liverpool St Helens and they will be taking a good following over Billinge Hill, “We like going wide and it’s a big pitch at Liverpool St Helens and we are a good footballing side. I would imagine that they will be a little bigger and older than us and they will also be looking to get it out wide. Like I say we are about playing rugby we are going there to play the game, if it’s expansive we’ll try and do that to get the result.
“It’s a local derby and being played just over the hill. I’ll not say it is going to be tasty but it will be good viewing for the crowd. We will have a good following behind us and we are expecting to take a couple of hundred over and it should be a good atmosphere with plenty of vocal support.”
For Blackbrook coach Mark Lee the Premiership title is out of their hands knowing that they must win all their games and hope for a slip up from leaders Halton Simms Cross.
But his side will go into the Final fresh after a postponement and long trip to Hensingham last weekend and he cannot hide from the fact that his team are favourites to retain the Cup, “I know they have beaten some good sides out of our Division and again it a game that we need to be focused on and if we prepare right for it, turn up and do a professional job on them there is a good chance we will keep the Cup. If we don’t there is going to be a little bit of a shock on the cards. It’s no use hiding the fact that we are the favourites for it although I’m not happy having the favourites tag. But we are going to have to live with that and prepare as favourites and play as favourites.”
Prior to last years win the squad were dry on Christmas and Boxing Day and it will be the same again this time but they will let their hair down later that night at the club, “Yeah we will prepare the same way as last year why not, if it’s not broken why fix it. We prepared well last year and the last drink the boys had was on Christmas Eve. They didn’t drink on Christmas day and Boxing Day but by God they made up for it after the win.
“Our next game after this Cup Final is on the 6th January, but there is a function on at the Blackbrook club after the final, an Irish night which everyone will be welcome to. So win or lose we will have a celebratory Christmas drink because after all they boys will not have had a real Christmas. We want to make it another special one for them by retaining the Lancashire Cup.”
It all adds up to a fascinating Final were no quarter will be given or taken and what better way to get over the Christmas excesses and preparing for the New Year by getting down to this HALBRO Lancashire Cup Final.
Steve Manning
BARLA Media Manager & PRO
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The British Amateur Rugby League Association.
West Yorkshire House, 4 New North Parade, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. HD1 5JP, England
Tel: 01484 599113, Fax: 01484 510682, info@barla.org.uk |
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