2014 Super League Grand Final

2014 Super League Grand Final
St Helens RLFC Wigan Warriors
14 6
1 2 Total
STH 2 12 14
WIG 6 0 6
Date 11 October 2014
Stadium Old Trafford
Location Manchester, United Kingdom
Harry Sunderland Trophy James Roby
Referee Phil Bentham
Attendance 70,102
Broadcast partner
Broadcaster Sky Sports
 < 2013
2015 > 

The 2014 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 11 October 2014,[1] at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK with a 6pm Kick-Off time. The top two teams from the regular season, St Helens RLFC and Wigan Warriors, locked horns to fight for the Super League XIX title.[2]

Route to final

St Helens

Def Castleford, 41-0 in the Qualifying Final on 19 September
Def Catalans, 30-12 in the Semifinal on 2 October.[3]

Wigan

Def Huddersfield, 57-4 in the Qualifying Final on 18 September
Def Warrington, 16-12 in the Semifinal on 3 October.[4]

Summary

Following a fiery opening that started with the kind of big tackles that this derby game has become known for, the game suffered a dramatic twist in only the second minute of the game when Wigan Prop, Ben Flower, was sent off by referee Phil Bentham after he punched a defenceless Lance Hohaia.[5] This forced Wigan to play 78 minutes with 12-men, causing a switch in the Wigan approach to one of smash-and-grab. A valiant first-half performance by Wigan's 12-men meant they entered the break with a 6-2 lead.[6]

Despite further strong defensive displays by the Wigan outfit in the ensuing second-half, Iosia Soliola forced himself over the Wigan try-line in his final appearance in the Red-Vee to put St Helens ahead and in control of the game. An admirable yet desperate display by Wigan to get themselves back into contention was halted when Tommy Makinson crashed over for Saints 12 minutes from time to make the score 14-6 after a precise kick over-the-top of the Wigan defence from Saints stalwart, Paul Wellens. Despite a late Wigan flurry, Makinson's try proved to be the one that sealed the game and the championship for St Helens meaning that the Saints claimed their first championship title since 2006 and their sixth overall in the Super League era (St Helens are now equal with,Leeds Rhinos for titles since 1996, both have 6 titles).[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2014 Super League fixtures announced". Super League. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Super League Grand Final 2014: Wigan favourites but St Helens have momentum ahead of Old Trafford showdown". Daily Telegraph. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "St Helens 30-12 Catalan Dragons: Classy Saints march into Grand Final to end Dragons' play-off dream". Daily Mail. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Wigan 16-12 Warrington: Joe Burgess the hero as Warriors leave it late to secure Grand Final spot". Daily Mail. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "St Helens 14 Wigan Warriors 6: Moment of madness from Wales international Ben Flower costs Wigan dear". Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "St Helens 14-6 Wigan: Tommy Makinson and Sia Soliola secure Grand Final glory after Warriors prop Ben Flower sees red". Daily Mail. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "St Helens win Grand Final after Wigan’s Ben Flower is sent off". Guardian. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "St Helens 14-6 Wigan Warriors". BBC Sport. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.

External links