WARRINGTON Wolves produced three magnificent performances at Headingley Carnegie to win a fantastic Rugby League Nines competition in fine style and take home the £10,000 winner’s cheque.
In the quarter final the Wolves faced a very strong Leeds Rhinos side, that included internationals Ali Lauitiiti and Weller Hauraki, and triumphed 26-20 in a pulsating encounter that saw Ryan Shaw score a hat trick of tries, and this was despite going behind within ten seconds of the kick off. Warrington led 18-10 at half time with Shaw (2) and Ben Currie scoring the tries. Gavin Williams (2) and Brad Dwyer (1) were on target with the conversions. In the second half tries for James Saltonstall and a third for Shaw saw the Wolves home.
The semi-final saw the Wolves face hot favourites Wigan Warriors who had gone through the group stages unbeaten winning all twelve games but a superb display by the young Wolves saw them race into a 12-0 lead at the break with tries from Ben Hellewell and Rhys Williams, both goaled by Gavin Williams and a composed second half showing saw them gain a memorable 12-4 victory.
In the Grand Final the Wolves faced Cumbria in a high quality game befitting of such an occasion. Cumbria opened the scoring in the fifth minute to take a 6-0 lead but the Wolves soon hit back with a James Mendeika try and Gavin Williams conversion to level at half time and in the second half two tries for Brad Dwyer both goaled by G. Williams, with a Cumbria try sandwiched in between, saw the Wolves deservedly triumph 18-10 to lift the All Golds Cup.
Victorious Wolves Under 20s Head Coach Richard Marshall said: “We thoroughly deserved to win the competition having triumphed over a very strong Leeds Rhinos side and an unbeaten Wigan Warriors team and then to beat Cumbria, who we feel have been the best team we have faced during the qualification weeks, in the final was very apt and we couldn’t be happier. I am absolutely delighted and proud of every one of the squad who have played in this competition. We played very smart and composed rugby all night and that was shown in the results. Ryan Shaw was one of our best performers on the night and we were very well led by captain James Mendeika. Gavin Williams and Brad Dwyer were very lively from dummy half and kept us on the front foot. The kicking of G. Williams proved crucial on the night, converting all but two of our tries. I must say a big thanks to all of the staff involved in preparing the side over the past five weeks especially Danny Fullerton, assisted by Peter Nicholson, who has taken a leading role for this tournament.”
Marshall added: “We are a very good and skilful 9-a-side team and we have really took to this concept well and we will now be looking to take this confidence into the rest of our league campaign that resumes on Friday evening when we entertain Huddersfield Giants in the Valvoline Cup in a curtain raiser to the Engage Super League clash between the same sides. Kick off is 5.30pm at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. The future of the club is very bright with the quality of youngsters coming through.”
Wolves 13-man Squad
Ben Hellewell, Rhys Williams, Ryan Shaw, James Mendeika (captain), Ben Currie, James Saltonstall, Ben Evans, Tyrone McCarthy, Gavin Williams, James Laithwaite, Glenn Riley, Brad Dwyer, Paul Brearley.
