Warrington Wolves :: 52
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats :: 12
date: 21st September 2003
With the last Super league match at Wilderspool, only two words can describe the occasion: atmosphere and passion. The scene was set for what was to be a memorable day for a multiple of reasons. The team had come through the pervious season intact, narrowly avoiding relegation with Coach Paul Cullen stepping up to take charge and ensure safety. A solid season prevailed and the call was to leave Wilderspool with dignity.
The final day of the season could be a fairy tale ending with a win sealing a play-off place for the first time in Super League or for a quiet farewell to the old Lady? The Warrington fans responded in great style and packed the place out with a capacity crowd of 9,261.
The sun broke through the clouds, the girls danced, the opera singer performed and the crowd chanted, all that was needed now was for a top drawer performance to seal the season and make sixth spot. Paul Cullen would later describe the game as “a performance that did justice to the great players who have honoured this club throughout its entire history.” In their one off “end of an era” strip the players took their place in what was about to be a great 80 minute display from the men in primrose and blue.
The game started at a furious pace for the wolves with a hard hitting defensive effort before Domic bagged the first try with a neat offload from Wainwright, Gaskell tore down the wing and drew the fullback creating the space for Domic to score after 5 mins. Great handling and support play made the Wolves second try for Appo and an almost identical move gave him his second score of the day to make it 18-0, losing part of his shirt into the bargain! Paul Noone dummied and powered his way over on 35 mins and the Appo conversion made it 26-0 with a rampant Wolves attack on fire. Former Wakefield player Ben Westwood drove the nail into the Wildcats coffin with another width of the field passing move finished of with ease. An incredible solid, inspired first half that gave the Wolves a safe 32-0 lead.
The Wolves started the second half on the wrong foot with Spicer scoring within a minute of the restart and the game slowed down for a while at least. A thumping tackle and a poor offload gave Graham Appo all the chance he needed to complete his hat trick as he latched on to a loose pass and raced 90 meters to score untouched under the posts. Westwood got his brace of tries on the hour and pushed the Wolves still further ahead through the 40 point mark. Korkidas got the Wildcats last try of the day before a deserved final try for ‘super’ Sid Domic a minute from full time, a wide smile beaming across his face as he swan dived over the line.
With the game in the bag the real celebrations started, a well earned lap of honour from the players and a well earned “thank you” to the fans, a fitting end to a great day and a great stadium that hold many memories for fans and players alike.
In an address to the fans an emotional Paul Cullen summed up the season, “there have been some dark hours, we have come through them and this is the dawn of a new era”
Warrington Wolves : Daryl Cardiss, Ben Westwood, Brent Grose, Side Domic, Dean Gaskell, Graham Appo, Nathan Wood, Nick Fozzard, Jon Clarke, Paul Wood, Paul Noone, Mike Wainwright, Darren Burns
Subs: Gary Hulse, Mark Gleeson, Jerome Guisset
Tries: Domic (5, 79 mins) Appo (15, 23, 55 mins) Noone (35 mins) and Westwood (40 and 60 mins)
Goals: Appo (10/10)
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats : Martyn Holland, Colum Halpenny, Gareth Ellis, Sylvain Houles, Rob Spicer, James Rooney, Ben Jefferies, Michael Korkidas, David March, Darrel Griffin, Dallas Hood, David Wretch, Jamie Field
Subs: Brad Davis, Paul Hanforth, Steve Snitch, Ian Knott
Tries: Spicer (41 mins) Korkidas(67 mins)
Goals: Rooney (2/2)
Referee: Robert Connolly (Wigan)
Attendance: 9261
