In today's Wire Classic, we're taking you back to the day Warrington Wolves kept their 2009 Challenge Cup dream alive with a heroic golden-point win against Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park. Here's how Warrington Guardian sports editor Mike Parsons reported the incredible match, with cracking pictures from Mike Boden included.
WARRINGTON Wolves boss Tony Smith now knows what it is like to be on the glorious side of Lee Briers’ magic right boot in knockout rugby.
The stand off’s wonderful match-winning drop goal against Hull Kingston Rovers smacked of Headingley 2006 all over again.
That September evening, Smith was in charge of a highly fancied Leeds Rhinos side which were turned over 18-17 by Briers’ 38-metre drop goal with 100 seconds remaining, earning Wolves their first ever end-of-season play-off win.
Above, that barmy night at Headingley in 2006 when Lee Briers' last-ditch drop goal earned Wire a first play-off win and knocked Tony Smith's Leeds Rhinos out of the competition. The celebrations were unforgettable. Pictures: Mike Boden
On Saturday, Briers booked Wolves’ ticket to the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi finals for the first time since 2004 with a club record 58th one-pointer, coming in the fifth minute of ‘golden point’ extra time after 80 riproaring minutes had failed to produce a winner.
And, just like three years ago, Briers’ stunning strike as defenders hounded in on him was the spark for pandemonium at Craven Park’s two ends, where 15 coachloads and more Wolves fans were dancing like crazy and dreaming of a Wembley appearance on August 29.
Briers, who also went bananas with his celebrations, had not been far away with three other drop goal attempts as Wolves’ marauding ruck runners dominated the final stages to get him within kicking range.
“Briersy was putting his hand up before the golden point period, saying just get me into their 50m area and I’ll put it over,” said Smith.
“He’s a confident young man and eventually he got it right.”
Briers, who is out of contract at the end of the season, revealed how he started to celebrate prematurely.
“I thought the third drop goal was over but the wind took it away,” said Briers.
“Me and Bennie (Westwood) were jumping up and shouting thinking it had gone over.
“I had enough chances and I think all the experience over the years set me up for the winner.
“The boys did really well to get me there. The field position that they gave me was unbelievable.”
Richie Mathers, Chris Bridge, Garreth Carvell and Jon Clarke had taken Wolves from deep inside their own territory to put Briers within firing range, with Micky Higham supplying an all-important perfect pass from dummy half.
Bridge, Carvell and skipper Adrian Morley all produced stand-out performances, with Briers also proving to be influential in the second 40 minutes.
As Wolves, who lost Ben Westwood and Michael Monaghan to injuries for a spell, trailed 22-12 with 13 minutes to go, but Briers dragged his men back into the hunt with a cross-field kick gleefully received and touched down by Matt King.
And four minutes later he was on the shoulder of Morley on an explosive break, putting himself in place to produce a lightning pass for Bridge to cross.
And it had been Briers’ long pass that allowed Bridge to send King flying down the wing to set up the try for Jon Clarke which put Wolves ahead for the first time in the 43rd minute.
After that amazing night in Leeds three years ago then coach Paul Cullen, who watched from the stands in a media role on Saturday, described Briers as ‘the smartest, cleverest player in Super League, bar none.’ Briers’ current form suggests that has not changed!
Match facts
Hull KR 24 Warrington Wolves 25
Wolves: Richie Mathers; Matt King (1t), Chris Bridge (1t, 4g), Simon Grix, Chris Riley; Lee Briers (1dg), Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke (1t), Garreth Carvell, Ben Westwood, Louis Anderson, Vinnie Anderson (1t). Subs: Mickey Higham, Paul Wood, Paul Rauhihi, Ben Harrison.
Rovers: Shaun Briscoe; Peter Fox, Jake Webster (1t), Kris Welham (1t), Liam Colbon; Paul Cooke, Michael Dobson (4g); Nick Fozzard, Ben Fisher, Clint Newton (1t), Stanley Gene, Ben Galea (1t), Scott Murrell. Subs: Makali Aizue, Daniel Fitzhenry, Scott Wheeldon, Chev Walker.
Referee: Phil Bentham
Scoring: Cooke’s long pass sets Fox free on the outside of King and supporting Welham touches down, 3mins, Dobson converts, 6-0; Monaghan switches play inside for Vinnie Anderson to crash over after mounting pressure, 16mins, Bridge converts, 6-6; Briers’ long pass allows Bridge to escape Welham’s clutches and send King flying down the wing before handing over to Clarke to finish off his first try of the season, 43mins, Bridge converts, 6-12; Newton storms past Louis Anderson to score from a Dobson pass after Wolves are penalised for interference, 49mins, Dobson converts, 12-12; Carvell is punished for offending in a tackle when Mathers fails to clean up Cooke’s kick and Galea pounces, 53mins, Dobson converts, 18-12; Murrell cuts Warrington open down the middle with Fitzhenry and Dobson combining to fire Webster home, 63mins, 22-12; Briers’ cross-field kick behind the defence allows King to swoop, 67mins, Bridge converts from the touchline, 22-18; Higham’s dummy-half dash sends Morley on a rampaging burst before the supporting Briers skilfully whips out a pass for Bridge to cross, 71mins, Bridge converts, 22-24; Wolves are penalised on their own line for offside and Dobson converts from just right of the posts, 78mins, 24-24; Briers keeps cool under pressure to land ‘golden point’ drop goal and signal the end of the match, 85mins, 24-25.
Pens: Rovers 7 Wolves 4
Attendance: 7,671
Warrington Guardian top men: Briers 3pts, Morley 2pts, Carvell 1pt.
Interesting note: Wolves have now won four successive away games for the first time since 2006.
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