FORUMS > St. Helens > My favourite ever game |
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| Good man Rogues and regards to your mam. I look forwards to hearing your stories later and I'm sure my chums from Saints are all really looking forwards to hearing them as well.
In the meantime here are some of my favourites:
One of my first memories of rugby league was a derby in the first season I was watching Wire (1989/90). We won our first 6 games of the season and were top of the league, and Widnes, who had just won the World Club Challenge against Canberra, came to Wilderspool for a Lancashire Cup semi final. This was a very eagerly anticipated derby as at this point it was thought that Warrington and Widnes would be the sides to beat that season, and we had a crowd of 10000 plus at Wilderspool which wasn't common those days. The atmosphere was amazing. Warrington played Widnes off the park - they weren't even in the game, and Greg Mackey who had just arrived on a short term deal from Illawarra Steelers, bossed the game and was class. I remember the feeling walking away from that game, and what people were saying in the stands, was that we were on the verge of something special. We won the Lancashire Cup against Oldham a week later. Unfortunately a few weeks later we had our first loss of the season against Saints (the first team I saw beat us), Greg Mackey's deal expired and he got signed by Hull, and we went on a disastrous run of form and went careering down the table. We managed (with the help of a lucky draw) to rescue some pride that season by getting to Wembley but we were soundly beaten by Wigan. This was one of two moments (the other being in 1995) when Warrington were close to being able to kick on and be a top side, but just lost momentum and lost key players.
Other great memories
- a Challenge Cup tie at Thrum Hall in 1994, this was notable for a second half comeback that featured two spectacular solo tries from Jonathan Davies. If there was ever a game where one man turned it round it was Davies, he was at the absolute peak of his game then.
- a home game against Saints in 1996, Saints won by one point, it featured memorable tries from Jon Roper and Richard Henare. Henare's try was from a scrum on our line where Scully flicked it out to him on the short side, and he just burned straight down the touchline - right past where I was standing - and did everyone for speed. I also remember that day, because it was my last day of school in Year 11, and after the game I went to a party, and experienced my first close encounter with the opposite sex...I was still buzzing off Henare's try when I was getting down to business and I reckon it took me about as long to finish as it did for him to run the length of the field
- Nigel Vagana bursting onto the scene with a hat-trick in a win over Wigan in early 1997 (this was before people had realised the pies were going crap), we had started the season disastrously and Jon Dorahy got sacked, Paul Cullen took over as caretaker coach a few days before the game and we roasted Wigan, Vagana was superb
- ending the unbeaten run of the "Unbeatabulls" Bradford in 2000 who had started off that season looking like they were going to run away with Super League, they were well ahead at half time and we thought we were in for a roasting but Allan Langer put on a masterclass in the second half and Bradford couldn't deal with it. Also our forwards really got stuck into theirs and they lost the plot, Brian McDermott got sent off for a high tackle on Mark Hilton and there were some of the best fights I've seen, with Hilton, Nutley and Farrar going toe to toe with Vagana, Lowes and the Bradford pack. Robbie and Henry Paul had been strutting around in the first half but in the second with things going against them and the Wire fans getting in to them they lost their cool and were pointing and ranting at their own players. That was the day we really saw what all the fuss was about regarding Langer, a genuine great playing in a very ordinary side.
- Andrew Johns' debut in 2005 at home to Leeds, the expectation and build up for that game was on a different level to anything I'd seen, and it was probably the most intense first couple of minutes I've ever seen in rugby league, it felt like State of Origin or Superbowl at the start of the game, with a massive roar for about 30 seconds before Johns kicked off, then he kicked off, a Leeds player dropped it, we got the scrum and scored off the first set of six in the game and the place was absolutely bouncing. Probably my favourite 2mins ever as a rugby fan.
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| Quote: sally cinnamon "I look forwards to hearing your stories later and I'm sure my chums from Saints are all really looking forwards to hearing them as well.'"
The cumulative sound of fingers feverishly hitting the "hide user's posts" button across the Saints community will probably be loud enough to cause a tsunami in the South Pacific somewhere and wipe out the population of several small islands. Do you really want mass genocide on your conscience?
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| Quote: sally cinnamon "- a home game against Saints in 1996, Saints won by one point, it featured memorable tries from Jon Roper and Richard Henare. Henare's try was from a scrum on our line where Scully flicked it out to him on the short side, and he just burned straight down the touchline - right past where I was standing - and did everyone for speed. I also remember that day, because it was my last day of school in Year 11, and after the game I went to a party, and experienced my first close encounter with the opposite sex...I was still buzzing off Henare's try when I was getting down to business and I reckon it took me about as long to finish as it did for him to run the length of the field'"
I think most Saints fans will remember that day fondly. Pickavance's try was high drama only to be topped by Chris Rudd having that shot at goal that drifted wide, sending us all up in raptures. One of several memorable games for us that season.
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| Quote: McClennan "I think most Saints fans will remember that day fondly. Pickavance's try was high drama only to be topped by Chris Rudd having that shot at goal that drifted wide, sending us all up in raptures. One of several memorable games for us that season.'"
Yes that was an exciting season because in those days when the pies won the title every year, there were often other teams in the hunt, chasing them down all year, and they would have a slip at a key point and that would allow the pies to win again.
That season I always had a feeling that Wigan were going to end up nicking it from Saints again because Saints would blow it at some point. There were quite a few games that year, I remember London for one, where Saints were in trouble and pulled the game out of the bag narrowly. Then near the end of the season both Wigan and Saints were smashing everyone, but they were always a point behind, and Saints didn't lose so they could never claw it back...
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| There has been so many fantastic games its hard to pick a favourite...
CC win over Wigan in 2004 would be up there, as would WCC in 2007 v Brisbane and just about any game of the 2006 season! A lot of last gasp wins over Wire would be up there (the one where KC scored from Lyon's kick in 2005, losing 16-4 on 72 mins and winning 18-16), and obviously 75-0 was another great day but I think my overall favourite was 96 cup final over Bradford.
First cup final of my lifetime not won by Wigan, first time I had seen Saints win a major trophy and the record comeback in a CC final thanks to Bobbie's bomb squad - for those reasons I would say that game would be my favourite ever.
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| Not the biggest game in the grand scheme of things, but something a bit different and it always tends to be the first one I think of when threads like this come up. We destroyed Wigan 54-16 at the Pie Dome in a GF qualifier in 2000 (I think). Was a really special performance, the highlight being Sullivan catching a bomb on our left side and running the full length of the field, skinning Connolly in the process. I remember Long and Cunningham coming to salute the crowd at the end and a huge scrum of us ran right to the edge of the pitch to greet them.
We beat them in the GF a couple of weeks later too, I remember us being really comfortable early on but then they scored two quickfire tries and I remember a real nailbiter after that. The scenes of joy in the stands when Jonkers went over very late on will live with me forever - I probably hugged about half of this forum on the way down the stand and ended up about 15 rows lower than my seat.
Great days
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| Quote: SFW "Not the biggest game in the grand scheme of things, but something a bit different and it always tends to be the first one I think of when threads like this come up. We destroyed Wigan 54-16 at the Pie Dome in a GF qualifier in 2000 (I think). Was a really special performance, the highlight being Sullivan catching a bomb on our left side and running the full length of the field, skinning Connolly in the process. I remember Long and Cunningham coming to salute the crowd at the end and a huge scrum of us ran right to the edge of the pitch to greet them.
We beat them in the GF a couple of weeks later too, I remember us being really comfortable early on but then they scored two quickfire tries and I remember a real nailbiter after that. The scenes of joy in the stands when Jonkers went over very late on will live with me forever - I probably hugged about half of this forum on the way down the stand and ended up about 15 rows lower than my seat.
Great days
That may well be my favourite game as well that. I loved The Ultimate Comeback and Cardiff '04 was special but that game, at the minor premiers a couple of weeks after they'd stuffed us on our own turf. Well, that was special. It'll be a long time before we see a minor premier team crushed and with such style as well.
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| Do you know if there is anywhere stocking DVD's of that game? Would love to see it again.
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| Quote: SFW "Not the biggest game in the grand scheme of things, but something a bit different and it always tends to be the first one I think of when threads like this come up. We destroyed Wigan 54-16 at the Pie Dome in a GF qualifier in 2000 (I think). Was a really special performance, the highlight being Sullivan catching a bomb on our left side and running the full length of the field, skinning Connolly in the process. I remember Long and Cunningham coming to salute the crowd at the end and a huge scrum of us ran right to the edge of the pitch to greet them.
We beat them in the GF a couple of weeks later too, I remember us being really comfortable early on but then they scored two quickfire tries and I remember a real nailbiter after that. The scenes of joy in the stands when Jonkers went over very late on will live with me forever - I probably hugged about half of this forum on the way down the stand and ended up about 15 rows lower than my seat.
Great days
That was a great game! We ran sacked Wigan on there own turf that day and am I right in thinking thats still there highest ever defeat at the DW? Longy, Martyn, Cunningham and Sculthorpe where outstanding that night infact there all where to be honest.
Another great game was at the DW earlier in that 2000 season. 16-0 down and stirring down the barrell. Tommy Martyn produced in my opinion one of the finest performances of his career to score a hat-trick and nick the game 30-28.
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| Quote: Northampton_Saint "And let the sleeping commence.
Why is it you pounce on anyone who writes on here from other clubs?
Your constant derailing of threads is spoiling this board.
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| When I asked the boss (my mam) she said the 49/50 Championship Final at Maine Road Huddersfield v Wigan.
Wigan won by 20 points to 2. By all accounts it was a remarkable Wigan victory because they had eight players Ashcroft, Bradshaw, Cunliffe, Egan, Gee, Hilton, Ratcliffe and Ryan who had left the week previously to tour Australia. No substitutes than so that's over 60% of the side missing (Huddersfield had one player on the tour)
My late Saints supporting father-in-law used to tell me about the Wigan side of that 48 - 52 era and said it the the best side EVER to play Rugby League.
I'll go through my memorable 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's games later in the week. Some will surprise you.
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| Quote: Northampton_Saint "Quote: Northampton_Saint "Now come on, if that's not a cherry and white rag to the bull I don't know what is.'"
You'd have a point if it wasn't for the fact that that surgically targetted strike of mine on high value Wire-based military assets was made after he staggered in smelling of strongbow, old spice and stale urine to troll on in his oh so predictable trademark style. If a rag [iwas[/i being waved then it was as a token gesture after the bull had unprovoked already smashed through the exits and was careening off down the street....'"
Good god you're tedious.
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| Quote: Northampton_Saint "Quote: Northampton_Saint "Now come on, if that's not a cherry and white rag to the bull I don't know what is.'"
You'd have a point if it wasn't for the fact that that surgically targetted strike of mine on high value Wire-based military assets was made after he staggered in smelling of strongbow, old spice and stale urine to troll on in his oh so predictable trademark style. If a rag [iwas[/i being waved then it was as a token gesture after the bull had unprovoked already smashed through the exits and was careening off down the street....'"
Good god you're tedious.
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| Quote: FearTheVee "Good god you're tedious.'"
...and you're repetitive...
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| My favourite ever game?
27th Decemeber 1992 (yes it was put back a day) and the 41-6 thrashing of such an immense Wigan side,and the best ever atmosphere at KR in my opinion.
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