Pouring rain, the "1812 Overture" and a crescendo of noise from a record-breaking crowd for
a rugby league match at Old Trafford, set the scene for the first Super League Grand Final. It was a fitting scenario
for the finale of the Super League season and what a tremendous game was in prospect.
Safety-first, was the order of the day in the opening minutes, as neither team seemed willing to make a mistake on
the rain-sodden pitch, but it was Leeds who gradually started to dominate proceedings. The first line break was made by
Iestyn Harris, with a good 30m run, but the ball was lost as Kris Radlinski effected the tackle. Harris had a chance to
put his team ahead on 16 mins, but his penalty attempt just missed the mark.
Another break by Harris on 20 mins, opened up the Wigan defence, but again Radlinski brought him to ground. A quick
play-the-ball and the ball was moved out to the right and before the Warriors' defence could re-muster, Richie Blackmore
was diving over for the first score of the game. Harris missed with the conversion.
Leeds were running hot at this point, with the Wigan defence slow to move up, but the Rhinos were unable to take
advantage of their superiority, by adding any further points. It took until the 27th minute before the Warriors mounted
a serious assault on the Rhinos' line, but their predictable play was easily snuffed out by the Rhinos.
Wigan are always dangerous just before the half-time break and so it proved again tonight. Jason Robinson just failed
to connect under a high kick by Andy Farrell, into the corner, with his opposing winger Francis Cummings, being well
beaten. Just 3 mins before the interval and Wigan pounced. Robinson took the ball from dummy-half, near the touchline
and 20m out, ran across the face of the Rhinos' defence before straightening up, beating off the attempted tackles of
Darren Fleary and Jamie Mathiou, to scoot in under the posts. Farrell made no mistake with an easy conversion and Wigan
held a 6-4 lead.
Having been kept out of the game for all but the last 10 mins of the first half, Wigan must have considered
themselves to be fortunate to hold the interval lead. They needed to step up a gear in the second period and this is
exactly what they did.
Marc Glanville was caught by the touch-judge giving a 'facial' to Tony Smith and Farrell took full advantage of the
penalty to add a further two points to the Wigan score. No it was the Warrior's turn to be running hot and they almost
scored again on 48 mins. A speculative high kick on the last tackle, by prop Neil Cowie, was collected by Mark Bell, but
it bobbled in his hands before he could touch down. The video judge was called into play and quite correctly, he ruled a
knock-on, as the ball bounced off Bell into Harris, before the winger re-gathered it.
With only a four points difference, it was still anyone's game. The two team's slugged it out toe to toe, with no
quarter asked nor given. Wigan always looked the more likely to score, especially when Jason Robinson had the ball, but
the scrambling Leeds defence held firm. As the game moved into its final ten minutes, the Rhinos were visibly tiring.
The effect of playing three punishing games in the last three weeks was taking its toll, whereas Wigan had only played
one game in the same period.
The Rhinos did not throw in the towel, however and they tried their hardest to get over the Warriors' line, but it
was not to be. The last word went to Wigan, with a Farrell penalty goal, just before the final hooter.
"Winners are Grinners" as they say and at the end of the game, all the grins were on the faces of the Wigan
players. It was a fitting end to what has been a tremendous season for the Warriors and, in particular, for Robbie
McCormack, Mark Bell and Henry Paul, who were all playing their last game in the famous cherry and white colours.
Hail to the Champions of 1998 - Wigan Warriors
