Orrell St James, Hindley Stags, Wigan St Judes NWML and Spring View all triumph in the season closer...
Grand Final season wouldn’t be complete without some inclement weather, and Storm Amy duly obliged. The entire borough of Wigan defied the conditions and descended on West Bank Bears as the curtain was brought down on yet another North West Men’s League season.
Premier Division Grand Final
In the showpiece Premier Division Grand Final, Orrell St James outclassed Blackbrook to complete a historic treble of trophies, adding the championship title to the League Leaders’ Shield and NWML Cup secured earlier in the season.
Both sides showed levels of intensity worthy of a grand final and traded possession for the majority of the first half. It took nearly thirty minutes for the breakthrough to arrive; stand-off Joseph Charnock produced a striking cut-out pass to find Jack Gallagher, who dove over the line to finally open the scoring - Charnock displaying all the skills and talent that would earn him the Player of the Match award.
Orrell’s confidence was surging, and full-back Jack McHugh and scrum-half James Causey were beginning to exert their influence on the game. Good hands from the Wigan side almost saw them score down the left-hand side, but they had to settle for a goal-line drop-out thanks to the scrambling Blackbrook defence. They wouldn’t be denied for long, however, as McHugh shifted it left again to his winger Samuel Burns, who squeezed in at the corner to double his side’s lead.
Blackbrook were hanging on as half-time approached, but their defence was breached once more. It was a score that owed a lot to Orrell’s punishing defence, which smothered their opponent’s attempts to come away from their own line. After regaining possession deep in the Blackbrook half, substitute James Dandy burrowed over the try line to add his name to the scoresheet and extend Orrell’s lead going into the break. Despite the blustery conditions, Charnock was able to further stretch his team’s advantage with two successful conversions from tricky angles.
Half-time: Orrell St James 14-0 Blackbrook
It was the trailing Blackbrook that started the second half the strongest, and after building sustained pressure on the Orrell line, including being held up over the line on the left, the St Helens side shifted the ball the entire width of the pitch to Joshua Davies, who managed to dot the ball down in the corner and drag his team back in the contest. Daniel Moss was unable to display the same mastery of the conditions as Charnock with his conversion attempt.
Davies’ try was as good as it would get for Blackbrook. His score appeared to have the effect of angering Orrell as they stepped up their defensive efforts and looked to suffocate Blackbrook’s resolve. Causey eased the pressure on his defensive line with a breakaway score, and centre Liam McLoughlin got in on the action with an easy try.
Although the game was now beyond them, Blackbrook remained determined to finish the game, and their season, on a high note. Their continued efforts, however, would prove to be the final nail in their coffin as they dropped the ball in an attempt to start an attack deep in their own half. Callum Taylor scooped the ball up and managed to find an offload as he was felled by a despairing Blackbrook defender. His pass found the supporting Burns, whose try, combined with Charnock’s subsequent conversion, pushed Orrell past the 30-point mark and punctuated a near-perfect, unbeaten season for the treble winners.
Full-time: Orrell St James 32-4 Blackbrook
Orrell St James
1. Jack McHugh 5. Jack Gallagher 3. Liam McLoughlin 4. Callum Taylor 2. Samuel Burns 6. Joseph Charnock 7. James Causey 8. Thomas Whittle 9. Sam Lewis 10. Jonathan Griffiths 11. Christopher Doran 12. Joshua Wilde 13. Jake Williams
14. James Dandy 15. Ben Tordoff 17. John Hutchings 16. Nathan Ellis
Tries: Samuel Burns (x2) Jack Gallagher, James Dandy, James Causey, Liam McLoughlin Conversions: Joseph Charnock (x4)
Blackbrook
1. Joshua Langley 2. Joshua Davies, Nathaniel Twiss 4. Jordan McManus 5. Keenan Parr 6. Michael Wynn 7. Daniel Moss 8. James Whalley 19. Paul Nash 10. Luke Marsh 11. Joshua Wilson 12. Luke Maloney Ward 13. Reece Jackson
14. Aaron Hyland 22. Joseph Woods 15. Cameron Tunstall-Muil 16. Scott Davidson
Tries: Joshua Davies
Player of the Match: Joseph Charnock (Orrell St James)
Division 1 Grand Final
Chorley Panthers denied the weekend’s hosts a Division 1 Grand Final berth with a narrow 30-26 victory in the play-off semi-final a week ago, and they sought to make themselves public enemy no.1 in Widnes with a victory against Hindley Stags.
They made the worst possible start to the game, however, knocking the ball on in their first possession of the game. Hindley remained patient with the ball and eventually forced a 2-on-1 on the left, creating space for winger Anthony Hart to open the scoring.
History repeated itself just minutes later as Chorley once again knocked the ball on and gifted Hindley easy possession. The Stags went left again, and full-back Jordan Fishwick was the beneficiary this time, squeezing in at the corner to double his team’s advantage. At this point, Hindley were averaging more than a point a minute, and unforced errors had put the Panthers firmly on the back foot.
Chorley were struggling to counter Hindley’s relentless completion and the Wigan side looked odds-on to score with every attack. Stand-off Christopher Scarborough made another possession count as he powered over directly under the posts for his side’s third try, and his half-back partner Joseph Heaton found his kicking boots with back-to-back successful conversions.
Even without their opponent’s help, Hindley were scoring at will and tried their hand from range with their next score. Straight from a scrum play, winger Callum Kennedy received the ball, pinned his ears back, and evaded the attention of Samuel Singleton and Andrew Robinson to finish off a first tackle play that started deep in his own half.
Having neutered Chorley with punishing defence, Hindley went to their kicking game for the final scores of the first half. The first came from the boot of substitute Adam Hesketh, who pinned the Panthers deep in their own half and forced a knock-on from Joseph Sumner. Hesketh was there to finish off the play that owed a lot to the work and dynamism from Nathan Mills, who laid it on a plate for Hesketh to score. In the next set of 6, Scarborough’s high bomb caused carnage amongst the Panthers fractured defence. Connor Worden missed the ball completely and it bounced perfectly into the path of Kennedy. It looked like Chorley had scrambled enough to prevent another score as Kennedy was ushered out of play, but the ball arced perfectly back in-field for Conor Ward to apply sufficient pressure and be awarded the try by the referee.
Half-time: Hindley Stags 30-0 Chorley Panthers
Determined to make the contest less one-sided, Chorley started the second forty with a renewed steeliness and finally penetrated the Hindley defence through Carl Bridge. The prop forward, however, was unable to secure the ball and he knocked on over the line. That missed opportunity didn’t deter the Panthers as they made their mounting pressure count and finally got on the scoreboard a few minutes later. Hooker Dylan Bloore caught everyone napping, including his own teammates, and strolled down the short side for the easiest score of the weekend.
The Panthers were a completely different side in the second half and continued to batter the Hindley back line, forcing four drop goals in quick succession, but they were met with a less-than-charitable Stags defence that stood firm for the remainder of the match.
Confident they could withstand any of their opponent’s pressure, Hindley turned on the style in the closing stages. Hesketh confirmed his Player of the Match award with a charging run towards the Chorley try line. Stopped just short, he was able to find a neat offload, allowing John Moore to slide over and soak in the celebrations of the nearby Stags fans.
The final try of the game was a fitting end to Hindley’s performance, not just in-game but for their entire season, as Reece Boyd’s spectacular outside-of-the-boot chip was collected and juggled even more spectacularly round the back by Anthony Hart. The winger raced away unchallenged to confirm his brace and the Division 1 championship for the Stags, avenging their play-off semi-final defeat in 2024.
Full-time: Hindley Stags 40-4 Chorley Panthers
Hindley Stags
1. Jordan Fishwick 14. Anthony Hart 3. Conor Ward 4. Benjamin Forshaw 5. Callum Kennedy 6. Christopher Scarborough 7. Joseph Heaton 10. Michael Thomas 2. Reece Boyd 21. John Moore 11. Benjamin Holland 12. Christopher Dunn 13. Liam Mercer
9. Adam Hesketh 19. Alfie Hough 18. Corey Cunliffe 10. Joshua Thornton 8. Nathan Mills
Tries: Anthony Hart (x2), Jordan Fishwick, Christopher Scarborough, Callum Kennedy, Adam Hesketh, Conor Ward, John Moore
Conversions: Joseph Heaton (x4)
Chorley Panthers
6. Andrew Robinson 2. Connor Worden 1. Daniel Croniken 4. Samuel Lynch 5. Spencer Baxter 13. Joseph Sumner 7. Samuel Singleton 8. Carl Bridge 9. Dylan Blore 10. Patrick Kennedy 11. Daniel Pilkington 12. Jack Fairclough 19. Harry Phillips 17. Michael Jessiman 14. John Cain 16. Jaxon Worrell 20. James Gregson 15. Jack Swarbrick
Tries: Dylan Bloore
Player of the Match: Adam Hesketh (Hindley Stags)
Division 2 Grand Final
It was 1st versus 2nd as Wigan St Judes NWML and Runcorn Highfield, both promoted last season, defied the odds to reach the Division 2 Grand Final. Much like their counterparts from Orrell, Wigan St Judes were aiming to add to their NWML Trophy and League Leaders’ Shield with victory in the showpiece event, and Runcorn Highfield recovered from four consecutive losses at the start of the season to surge towards the final.
With a win apiece over each other in the regular season, it was hardly surprising that both teams went hammer and tongs with each other and couldn’t be separated until a mistake from Runcorn gifted St Judes an opportunity to get the scoreboard ticking over with Roman Shinks’ penalty.
St Judes began to edge clear of their opponents and routinely forced Highfield into rushing their last tackle kicks and set pieces. Their harrying defence eventually paid dividends as they created a 3-on-1 overload on the left-had side. Centre Lewis Crosby ignored his supporting winger to get over for the game’s first try.
Runcorn dominated the remainder of the first half, but poor execution, particularly on the last tackle, saw them go into the half-time break scoreless but still very much in the contest.
Half-time: Wigan St Judes NWML 6-0 Runcorn Highfield
Highfield’s inability to take advantage of their possession and territory was punished early in the second half as St Judes forced another overload, this time on the right, which resulted in Lukas Heap selling an audacious dummy to push his team further ahead.
The high winds began to have an effect as St Judes failed to deal with the subsequent kick off, gifting Runcorn a goal-line drop-out and cheap possession through a series of penalties, which Runcorn finally took advantage of. Constant probing of the defensive line created a hole for Lewis Coffey to burst through unchallenged and get his team on the board.
With their opponent’s momentum gathering and just one score separating the two teams, frustration was beginning to show amongst the St Judes ranks. Substitute Reece Stanton stepped up to quell any doubt building amongst his teammates and re-establish St Judes two score advantage. Runcorn would not be put away so easily, however, and hit back just moments later through half-back Daniel Rice. The stand-off’s influence was growing in the second half, and a somewhat desperate chip through off the last tackle bounced favourably for the number 6 and he was able to touch down ahead of two St Judes defenders. His half-back partner Kyle Robinson tagged on the extra two points to set up an exciting final 10 minutes of the game and the season.
With the match firmly in the balance and with just a handful of minutes left, it was fitting that it was decided by the play of the game. St Judes showed great hands to set up Peter Moore for the game-winning moment as the forward barged his way over the line despite the attention of two Runcorn defenders. It was appropriate that this back-and-forth battle between the divisions best two sides came down to the final minutes, but it was Wigan St Judes NWML who were in raptures and left to celebrate another treble triumph.
Full-time: Wigan St Judes NWML 20-12 Runcorn Highfield
Wigan St Judes NWML
1. Lewis Melling 2. Callum Kneafcy 3. Lewis Crosby 4. Lewis Topping 20. Lukas Heap 6. Callum Silcock 7. Roman Shinks 8. Deacon Ashcroft 9. Daniel Frost 10. Thomas Hillyer 14. Kieran Rennox 12. Reece Aspinall 13. Peter Moore
11. Rohan Green 15. Reece Stanton 16. Ramon Samuels 17. Kieron Gaskell
Tries: Lewis Crosby, Lukas Heap, Reece Stanton, Peter Moore
Conversions: Callum Silcock
Penalties: Roman Shinks
Runcorn Highfield
1. Callum Cairns 2. Luke Cairns 4. Jack Callaghan 3. Joshua Lawrenson 5. Samuel Walker 6. Daniel Rice 7. Kyle Robinson 8. Dylan Bennett 9. Michael Fletcher 19. Lewis Coffey 11. Andrew Lee 12. Simon Hicks 13. David Patterson
10. Lewis Ainge 16. Daniel Price 14. Jack Singleton 17. David Murphy
Tries: Lewis Coffey, Daniel Rice
Conversions: Kyle Robinson (x2)
Player of the Match: Callum Silcock (Wigan St Judes NWML)
Division 3 Grand Final
With just one defeat all season, Spring View headed into the Division 3 Grand Final against Blackpool Scorpions as favourites and justified that tag with possibly the performance of the weekend, a blitz that stung the Scorpions.
With their attacking flair fully on display, Spring View will have been disappointed to have to wait until the 10th minute to register their first score, but as soon as Blackpool’s Toby Campbell had the ball stripped from him and Jack Burke dotted the ball down, the floodgates opened and Spring View simply overwhelmed their opponents with wave after wave of attack.
Joshua Daniels was the next to score for Spring View with what was the first of a six-try haul for the winger - he completed his hat trick shortly after the half-time break with relative ease. Thanks to a combination of the conditions and the uprights, Ben Fisher was unable to compound Blackpool’s misery with three unsuccessful conversions in the first half. However, it was merely brief respite for the Scorpions as winger Connor Pardon got in on the act for Spring View, receiving a booming pass in plenty of space for an easy touchdown.
With their first sustained attack of the half, Blackpool forced a penalty right under the Spring View posts, but with the clock ticking over to 40 and their offence rendered ineffective, full-back Matthew Rowley opted for the kick at goal to finally get his team on the scoreboard and perhaps avoid the ignominy of being nilled.
Half-time: Spring View 22-2 Blackpool Scorpions
There was the faintest whiff of a potential comeback as a wicked kick-off was dropped by Spring View. A repeat set later, however, and Blackpool squandered possession with a knock-on. On the very next set, Daniels made light work of four attempted tackles and raced the length of the Blackpool half to register his 4th try of the game.
After the briefest bright spark in Blackpool’s play was snuffed out, Spring View began punishing the Scorpions at will and on almost every play. From the base of a scrum, Burke outpaced the would-be defenders for his second try.
Blackpool were bundled into touch from their own penalty, which allowed Lewis Holgate to break up field with ease. Just as the centre was hauled to the ground, he hurled a pass out for the onrushing Jake Roberts to grab the try-scoring glory.
With 15 minutes to go, the contest had turned into a procession for Spring View. Daniels added a fifth and sixth try while Roberts doubled his tally, and Jake Alder was not to be denied a scoring opportunity, going over for an easy walk-in try.
It was a sterling effort from the Scorpions from North Lancashire, but Spring View’s class was evident from minute 1 to minute 80, and they showed why they were comfortable Division 3 leaders.
It was a trophy-laden weekend for the town of Wigan, particularly for Orrell St James and Wigan St Judes NWML, who both confirmed themselves as treble winners in 2025. With Wigan Warriors Women triumphing over arch rivals St Helens in the Women’s Super League Grand Final, securing their own treble in the process, it’s over to the Warriors’ men’s side to see if they can add to the town’s unprecedented dominance of 2025 in the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.
Full-time: Spring View 60 Blackpool Scorpions 2
Spring View
1. Jake Alder 2. Connor Pardon 14. Lewis Holgate 4. Jamie Kenyon 5. Joshua Daniels 6. Jack Burke 7. Ben Fisher 8. Kian Fishwick 9. John Darbyshire 10. Christopher Hand 11. William Jones 13. Liam Smith 12. Jack Lowery
19. Ben Holgate 16. Jordan Arrowsmith 17. Jake Roberts 20. James Silcock 3. Philip Gibson 15. Samuel Roden
Tries: Joshua Daniels (x6), Jack Burke (x2), Jake Roberts (x2), Jake Alder
Conversions: Ben Fisher (x6), Jack Burke (x2)
Blackpool Scorpions
1. Matthew Rowley 2. Toby Campbell 3. Bailey Turner 4. Gareth Skelton 5. Marc Skelton 6. Callum Lee 7. Liam Wilkinson 8. Max Rossall 9. Harvey Burgess 10. Lloyd Garrad 11. Ciaran Towell 13. Taylor Ramsden 14. Philip Mitchell
20. Thomas Tribick 15. Paul Ogden 16. Paul Rossall 17. Matthew Woodburn 12. Thomas Little
Penalties: Matthew Rowley
Player of the Match: Joshua Daniels (Spring View)
By Patrick Bratin
