Match Report | Sheffield Eagles 6-50 Wakefield Trinity

09/06/2024

Sheffield Eagles were defeated in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final last night at Wembley Stadium.

After originally leading 6-0 after 16 minutes, it would prove to be too much for the Eagles as Wakefield responded with fifty unanswered points to secure a 6-50 win in the capital.

Sheffield opened the scoring through experienced half-back and captain Anthony Thackeray. After some quick play through the middle Thackeray found himself close to the line and managed to force his way through a number of Wakefield men to score. Cory Aston added the extras to put us into a six point lead. 

Wakefield went back-to-back eight minutes later as they edged themselves in front. The first came as Lachlan Walmsley intercepted an Eagles pass out wide and ran eighty metres to bring his side level, before they went ahead when Luke Gale spotted a gap to dive over in-front of his own fans.

Wakefield dealt the Eagles a killer blow on the stroke of half-time as the hooter sounded as hooker Tom Doyle spotted a gap underneath the sticks and got the ball down over the line, allowing Max Jowitt an easy attempt at goal with the boot which took the score to 6-18 at the break.

Daryl Powell's side stepped up a gear in the second half and added a fourth try of the evening only two minutes into the second half as Oli Pratt crashed over in the corner after picking up a loose ball on the twenty metre mark, before Josh Griffin was too strong as he added a fifth try of the game for Wakefield only minutes later. 

Wakefield further developed their lead in the fifty-third minute as Pratt spotted a gap in the Eagles line to go over just wide of the sticks.

Powell's side added three late tries in the closing eighteen minutes as a Jermaine McGillvary double and a further try from Griffin rounded off the win for Wakefield, who lifted their first piece of silverware since relegation from Super League last season.

Attention now turns back to the Betfred Championship campaign for the Eagles as we look to take on Featherstone Rovers at Olympic Legacy Park next Sunday afternoon (3pm).

Sheffield Eagles: Hansen, Jones-Bishop, Welham, Glover, Dawson-Jones, Aston, Thackeray, Battye, Halafihi, Dickinson, Bower, J.Farrell, Gwaze

Interchanges: Wood, Murphy, Clark, Sene-Lefao

18th Man: Hodgson

Tries: Thackeray (16’)

Conversions: Aston 1/1

Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, McGillvary, Thornley, Pratt, Walmsley, Gale, Lino, Bowden, Hood, Atoni, Ashurst, Griffin, Pitts

Interchanges: Kay, Uele, Rodwell, Doyle

18th Man: Bain

Tries: Walmsley (24’), Gale (27’) Doyle (40’), Pratt (42’, 53’), Griffin (47’), McGillvary (62’, 75’), Griffin (66’)

Conversions: Jowitt 7/8

Referee: T.Grant

Final’s Day Attendance: 64,845