Saturday (August 6) saw a thrilling day of NWML Finals action in Salford live on Our League, as three clubs were crowned champions across the Shield, Trophy and Cup competitions.
We kicked things off with the Shield Final between Wigan St Judes A and Newton Storm. The Wigan outfit got off to a flyer and took the lead early on, but Newton hit back instantly and two tries in quick succession put them in the lead.
They’d extend the lead further and head into the break 6-16 up, but Wigan St Judes were quicker out the blocks in the second half to pull it back to 12-16.
It wasn’t long before Newton responded, though – eventual player of the match Toby Hughes linked up well with fellow halfback Jack Humphreys, who finished off a great move to give the Storm some more breathing room.
The Merseyside outfit didn’t let up, and a superb performance was capped off late on through Alan Callister who sealed a 18-36 victory to confirm their status as NWML Shield champions!
The NWML Trophy was up for grabs next, as Salford City Roosters clashed with West Bank Bears. With the finals being played at the home of Salford City, it wasn’t a game the Roosters wanted to lose, but they calmed the nerves early on through a Paul Morgan try after five minutes.
After long periods of free-flowing Rugby League from the Roosters, Danny Priestley went in under the posts before nailing the conversion to make it 18-0 around halfway through the first half – the Salford dominance continued, and they went in at the break 26-0 up.
It was cruise control from there on out, but West Bank got on the board with ten minutes to go before Salford’s Andrew Muscat rounded off a commanding win right before the whistle to make it 34-6, and bring the NWML Trophy home!
Orrell St. James and Halton Farnworth Hornets brought down the curtains on a gripping Finals day as they fought it out for the NWML Cup.
It took just two minutes for the Hornets to open the scoring, as winger Matthew Tyrer found space and crossed over.
Although Orrell responded quickly with a try of their own, the Hornets regained the lead once again and looked to be in control heading into the break.
Orrell St. James had some ideas of their own, though.
When Sam Wilson scored for the Wigan outfit it seemed he’d only cut the Hornets’ lead before half-time, but there was still time for one more – Kieran Taylor crossed over in the last few seconds to turn it around and put Orrell 14-12 up at the break.
The drama continued in the second half, and Halton Farnworth regained the lead early on after some mesmerising footwork and finish from Jack Gatliffe – after Orrell St. James hit back once more, it would be Gatcliffe who stepped up again, making no mistake with a penalty goal in the dying embers to send an enthralling final to golden point.
The responsibility would fall on Gatcliffe’s shoulders again, though – with another penalty awarded, he had the opportunity to win it for the Hornets, and win it he did! Ice coursing through his veins, he nailed the penalty goal and made it 20-22 to ensure Halton Farnworth were crowned Cup champions after a riveting game of Rugby League.
