AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final 🏉🏆

19 August 2023

It’s been a week since the incredible four-finals-in-one-day at Wembley on the 12th August 2023!

The first final of the day was the inspiresports Champion Schools Year 7s Final where Bedford High School took on the Archbishop Sentamu Academy in the first Hull/Leigh clash of the day, Hull came out on top in this game with a score of 18-6. Inspiresports Champion Schools is the RFLs flagship school competition for boys and girls from year 7 to year 11. The year 7 boys final is named in honour of Steven Mullaney, the schoolboy who in 1986 thrilled spectators and television viewers alike by scoring a superb solo try as Wakefield schools defeated St Helens at Wembley in the Challenge Cup Final curtain-raiser, but who died in tragic circumstances the following year.

The Women’s Challenge Cup Final was next; despite this being the 11th Women’s Challenge Cup final, it was the first one to take place at Wembley Stadium AND the first time the women’s and men’s final took place on the same day! The final was a repeat of the 2022 final, with defending champions St Helens, taking on last season’s runners-up, Leeds Rhinos. St Helens managed to retain cup for the third year, beating the Rhinos with a score of 22-8.

The third final of the day and second Hull/Leigh clash saw Leigh Leopards and Hull Kr fighting to win the Challenge Cup. The game was tied at 80 minutes with the tension rising during the golden point. The Leopards’ first attempt at scoring was shot wide, then the Robins missed the target on their effort, back to the Leopards and Lam had his first field goal of his career which scored the decisive point making the score 17—16 and winning Leigh the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1971.

The AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final was the last of the four games taking place at Wembley. This was Batley Bulldogs first time playing at Wembley in their 143-year history and the Halifax Panthers first time at the Stadium in 35 years. It was an emotional game for both teams, with head coaches Craig Lingard and Simon Grix both confirming their departures from their retrospective clubs at the end of the season. The Panthers were leading the first half of the game with the score almost evening out in the latter half, nearly ending with another tie. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they missed a last-chance kick leaving them 2 points behind and the Panthers victorious with a 12-10 win.
Here’s what Laura Beaumont had to say about the game, “The first half seemed like Halifax had the upper hand but then Batley turned up in the second half and really gave the opposition a run for their money. The game heated up quite quickly once Batley scored their first try and then when the final hooter sounded and they went in for a second try I really thought we were going to have another golden point moment. Hearts were definitely racing at Wembley this weekend but I thought the best team won in the end.”