Sponsored by
Wakefield Wildcats Academy romp to Grand Final victory
WAKEFIELD Wildcats Academy have won the Gillette Academy Championship Grand Final with a thoroughly professional 30-4 victory over Wigan Warriors.
The young Wakefield side overcame the blustery conditions at the Hearwell Stadium to dominate the first half and withstand an improved Wigan display in the second period.
The deadlock was broken in the seventh minute when Wigan failed to deal with a kick into their own 10-metres and Matt Wildie pounced to touch down.
Cain Southernwood began his man-of-the-match performance with a successful conversion.
Wakefield continued to push forward and Kyle Trout almost broke through before Russ Spiers crashed over to score an unconverted try on the quarter-hour.
Wigan hit back six minutes later when Jon Molloy sliced through the Wildcats' defence in midfield and was brought down inches short of the line.
The Warriors pushed home their advantage and the ball was fed out wide to Matthew Crowe who crashed over to make it 10-4.
But that proved to be the highlight of the game for Wigan and Wakefield responded three minutes later with a superbly worked score.
Southernwood opened up space with a delayed pass to Chris Annekin who then passed back inside for Southernwood to score a try he converted.
The Wildcats continued to exert pressure on the Warriors' line and the ball was worked out wide for Lucas Walshaw to cross on 31 minutes.
Another score soon followed and Annekin barged his way over to give Wakefield a 24-4 half-time lead.
The Wildcats started the second half in the same manner and another raid on the Wigan try line ended with Tom Henderson crashing over and Southernwood added the extras.
The Warriors improved and forced their opponents back but the deteriorating weather resulted in handling errors that let the Wildcats off the hook.
Wakefield's defence stood firm and Tony Drury's side eased their way through the final half-hour to clinch the Grand Final title.
Drury said: "Over the season we have been consistent and it's nice to get the reward at the end of it.
"Wigan are a good side and we had to defend well to keep them out. I am pleased that we kept them to four points.
"The lads have got on well all season and that shows on the field. They are clinical under pressure and that's the sign of a good team.
"I am really pleased and hopefully we can kick onto bigger things now."
Read Friday's Wakefield Express for more news from the Wakefield Wildcats.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
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
