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Wakefield Wildcats Academy go for Grand Final glory
WAKEFIELD Wildcats' talented Academy side are at full strength going into Saturday's Gillette Academy Championship Grand Final against Wigan Warriors and head of youth performance Tony Drury is "quietly confident" that the youngsters can end their season in style.
The Academy starlets are boasting a 16-game unbeaten run ahead of the final at the Hearwell Stadium (12.30pm) and their latest win was a morale-boosting 12-4 victory over Wigan in the play-offs two weeks ago.
The Cherry and Whites are going for a treble this season with the Reserve Grade Grand Final already won and the first team taking on St Helens in the Super League qualifying semi-final, also being played on Saturday.
Drury said: "Wigan are a very good, well-drilled side who are used to the big occasions. Our (play-off victory] was a good result and it was a terrific achievement to limit them to four points.
"I am quietly confident but it is a cup game and we have not been in this position before."
The play-off has been the Wildcats' only game in the last six weeks and Drury has faced a challenge to maintain match fitness but there is no shortage of belief in the squad.
He said: "The lads are full of confidence and it can be difficult to hold them back. We have had only one game recently but the team's never-say-die attitude will carry them through."
Ironically, the last defeat came when Wakefield travelled to Wigan on April 25 but they bounced back and embarked on a their incredible run of results that has surprised Drury.
He said: "At the start of the season we didn't expect to win the league and go 16 games unbeaten - it really has been a fairytale season.
"I am really proud of them and the lads should be proud of themselves.
Wakefield Wildcats head coach John Kear said: "The (Academy's] greatest achievement is how they have matured as a team. The improvement has impressed me and all the players have applied themselves.
"Wigan will be a hell of a proposition given that the Warriors' first, reserve and academy teams are going for a treble but it should be a great game."
Read tomorrow's Wakefield Express for a full preview of the Gillette Academy Championship Grand Final.
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Weather for Wakefield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
