Kelly’s heroes never to be forgotten - Wakefield Trinity v Featherstone Rovers

Continuing our series where The Yorkshire Post sports writers recall their favourite event, Richard Byram reflects on a thrilling rugby league encounter
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On September 26, 1998, Wakefield Trinity won promotion to Super League and despite all the slings and arrows thrown at them since – including a few fired by themselves – they still remain there today, nearly 22 odds-defying years later.

Trinity, one of the great names of rugby league, ascended to the top flight courtesy of a thrill-a-minute Grand Final victory over neighbours Featherstone Rovers in the inaugural Division 1 showpiece at the home of Huddersfield Giants.

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It remains the best game I have covered as a sports reporter, not so much for the high level of skill or assortment of household names, but for the sheer blood and thunder attitude of all 34 players across the 80 minutes – and a result which remained in doubt until the final hooter.

Match-winner: Francis Stephenson. Picture: Steve RidingMatch-winner: Francis Stephenson. Picture: Steve Riding
Match-winner: Francis Stephenson. Picture: Steve Riding

Having won the Division 1 title by four points from another fallen giant, Hull Kingston Rovers, Trinity, coached by Wakefield-born former player Andy Kelly, only had one play-off game, against his former side Rovers which they won 19-16.

Featherstone, in contrast, had finished fourth, 10 points adrift of the champions and had to beat Swinton Lions and Dewsbury Rams before hammering a demoralised Robins 54-6 to reach the final.

Rovers might have been outsiders on paper, but they had beaten hot favourites Wakefield twice during the season.

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I was working for the Wakefield Express at the time and it was vital for the club, city and indeed newspaper that they reached the Super League, having missed out when the new summer competition, backed by Sky TV, had formed two years earlier.

Andy Kelly: Victorious coach.Andy Kelly: Victorious coach.
Andy Kelly: Victorious coach.

Then, Trinity had controversially agreed to merge with Featherstone and Castleford to become a new team called Calder, but fan protests and the reluctance of the other two potential partners had fortunately put paid to that particular nonsense.

I was acting as “quotes man” which meant assisting my colleague who was reporting on the game and then obtaining quotes from – hopefully – celebrating players and officials afterwards.

It also meant I had the rare luxury of watching the whole game, which is not always possible in our trade, particularly if you are doing a “runner” – a report as the game goes on – which has to be filed on the hooter.

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Unlike many deciders with so much riding on them, this was no cagey final as the two sides went at each other from the first whistle.

Winner: Wakefield Trinty's Josh Bostock.Winner: Wakefield Trinty's Josh Bostock.
Winner: Wakefield Trinty's Josh Bostock.

Trinity opened up an 8-0 lead courtesy of hooker Roy Southernwood – such a key player for them that campaign – and giant Australian winger Josh Bostock, but crucially Salford-bound half-back Garen Casey could not convert either score.

Rovers pulled a try back through Danny Barker, who capitalised on hesitancy in the Wakefield defence to gather Richard Chapman’s high kick to score a try improved by the division’s ‘Player of the Year’, Chapman.

Back came Trinity and this time a brilliant pass by key man Casey over his head as he fell to the ground sent 6ft 5in powerhouse Bostock in at the corner again.

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Casey again missed the two-pointer and Wakefield went in at the break 12-6 up which did not reflect their dominance or possession, the main question being what, if anything, did Rovers have left in the tank?

Final foes: Matt Fuller, left, and Shaun Irwin.Final foes: Matt Fuller, left, and Shaun Irwin.
Final foes: Matt Fuller, left, and Shaun Irwin.

We quickly got our answer in spectacular fashion as Fev’s Chico Jackson burrowed over and then Steve Collins broke away to score between the posts and with Chapman converting both, Trinity were suddenly rocking on the ropes. But, like all good prizefighters, back they came again, as Kevin Gray had a try chalked off for a knock-on, before Casey raced through a huge gap in the Fev defence to touch down and finally broke his duck with the boot to make it 18-18.

With the scores level, Trinity centre Adam Hughes made a brilliant break from inside his own half but could not finish off his own kick ahead.

The momentum swung back Rovers’ way as winger Carl Hall – the current Doncaster chief executive – dabbed down in the corner, but crucially, Chapman could not convert from the side.

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No matter, Rovers thought they had won it with a ‘try’ that is still talked about now, with their fans convinced they were ‘cheated’ out of a place at the top table.

Former Leeds and Great Britain winger Karl Pratt finished off Asa Amone’s breakaway to score what looked like the winning try but, after consulting with his linesman, referee Nick Oddy called play back for a knock-on by forward Amone, in tackling Trinity’s Southernwood.

A huge and brave call by the officials, who had no video referee to assist them at that time, with little more than five minutes left.

Almost inevitably, from the scrum, Trinity worked the ball toward their opponents’ line, with captain Matt Fuller and Wayne McDonald opening a gap for fellow forward Francis Stephenson to smash through and score.

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Casey added the goal to make it 24-22 and this time Rovers had nothing left as Trinity and Fuller claimed the trophy and Super League prize in front of their delighted fans in the 8,224 crowd.

In contrast, Rovers are still trying to make the step up and who is to say Trinity would not still be in their shoes but for Kelly’s 1998 heroes?

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James Mitchinson

Editor