www.rallyroundtherobins.com/page12.htm

www.rallyroundtherobins.com/page12.htm

That was an epic semi-final.

Hull KR really were the team to beat in those days. Among other big names, I seem to remember they had Mark Broadhurst, who was a state-of-the-art front row forward. They also had George Fairbairn of course, who a few years earlier had been the ultimate Central Park poster-boy. Wigan, on the other hand, were just emerging from years in the doldrums, and for my money were the underdogs in a big way, despite the league victory they'd won the previous month (and despite having Brett Kenny at no. 6).

One thing Wigan did have, though, was fire in their belly. A year earlier they'd got to Wembley unexpectedly but on a wave a public support. They'd then performed dismally in the final, and a Joe Lydon-led Widnes side barely had to break sweat to inflict an embarrassing defeat on them. One thing was certain - there was no way the 1985 Wigan was going to go the same way.

But that semi was the toughest draw imaginable. It seemed highly improbable that Wigan could beat as good a side as Rovers twice in two months. Several times during the match it looked as if they were going to go down, but lots of unsung heroes stood tall in cherry and white that day. Mick Scott, who is rarely ever mentioned in despatches these days, saved the match with an incredible waistband tackle on GB winger Gary Clark. And then of course Graham West, who is remembered more often than Scott, but would never have been expected to make the 60 yard match-winning break that put David Stephenson in under the posts.

The game wasn't over at that moment, but I vividly recall the euphoria as I watched a length-of-the-pitch handling move that was 95% certain to take us to Wembley. What an amazing day. And what an amazing p**s-up in The Griffn that night.

I was thirteen at the time and remember how upset I was the year before when we played Widnes. I was convinced Brett Kenny was going to tear KR apart but if I recall correctly, he had one of his worst games in a Wigan shirt (cruncher you may correct me) and it was Graeme West who was outstanding that day.

I still remember Westy charging up the field toward me like a demented giraffe, passing to David Stephenson who checked his run so that Fairburn missed him and then under the sticks.

This was the game where Wane hurt his shoulder just before half time when he put Brian Juliffe in.

It was an amazing day. Brett Kenny did indeed have a quiet game - Mike Ford was one of Wigan's better players that day, but as we know, Kenny more than made up for it in the final and on many other occasions.
The bizarre thing is that Mick Scott's last ditch tackle on Gary Clark was never actually shown on the BBC highlights despite the fact that it had just as important bearing on the match as Stephenson's try. Watching Westy running directly towards us on the kop that day was one of the more surreal moments of watching RL. He just seemed to keep going and going and when Stephenson stepped inside to go under the posts I remember it was bedlam all round.
Hull KR were a great side in those days and to beat them twice inside a few weeks was some achievement. I still remember Brett Kenny's injury time kick to put Phil Ford in for the winning try at Central Park and thinking we really had stirred up the hornet's nest and that they would make us pay in the semi final.
Funny how I can remember tries and matches from that era so clearly, yet sometimes I come away from games these days not even remembering the scorers.

Great memories mentioned above from that match.

But I also remember the huge fight under the stand at the end that David Stephenson scored. Been in a few many years ago at the footy. This was on a par. Quite frightening. Bottles flying everywhere under the concrete pillars/roof.

That's the worst outbreak of violence I have ever seen at RL in my 50 years watching the game.

Too true, one of many great nights in there, I remember the players came in around 9-30 and the place erupted, Westie never bought a drink all night, unusually Gilly came back over from Yorks with the others, he kept telling Billy B that 'I am the new Billy Boston' in that strange West Indies/Yorkshire accent, Billy just shook his head and laughed, fantastic times, cant wait for them to come back.

14 at the time, it was an amazing atmosphere. The main end was split into two, but that didn't stop the odd bottle being thrown from either side. We seemed to play at Elland Rd every other year back then, lets see:

Leeds v Wigan JPS Final.
Hull KR v Wigan CC Semi Final
Wigan v York CC Semi Final
Hull KR v Wigan JPS/Regal Trophy Final (wasn't one of their players sent off for a horrible elbow in the face)?

Is that it? If it was then we won the lot - I certainly can't remember losing there???? IIRC!

It was a $hithole, but an extremely lucky one!

We always seemed to take a red double deckers bus over the M62 with flag hanging out the back when we went there as well.

One of my most memorable Wigan games. West's break came from a 22m tap if I recall.

Bizarrely, the thing that sticks most in my mind is Russ Abbot's "Oh What an Atmosphere" playing at the end of the game (truly one of the worst songs ever)

Yes, it was Chris Burton on Shaun Wane !!!

My God, I'd forgotten all about him. What a thug he was!

This was my first BIG away game and i still remember the car journey home as a 11 year old, and no one seeming to speak all the way home lol