Hull KR end 45-year wait for Challenge Cup glory as late try denies Warrington

Hull KR secured their first major trophy in 40 years in dramatic fashion with Tom Davies’s try two minutes from full-time and Mikey Lewis’s conversion seizing the Challenge Cup away from Warrington.

The Robins trailed in a pulsating final after Josh Thewlis’s first-half try and Marc Sneyd’s conversion made it 6-2. At that stage, it looked as though Rovers’ lengthy wait for a major trophy would continue for at least another few months.

Davies grounded a bouncing ball Warrington failed to deal with to level the scores before Lewis, the reigning Man of Steel, delivered the conversion to take the cup back to east Hull for the first time since 1980 and secure Rovers’ first trophy of any kind since 1985.

Tom Davies touches down for Hull KR with less than two minutes left of the final at Wembley. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Hull KR took a huge gamble before a ball had even been kicked, naming Michael McIlorum in their starting lineup six weeks after a ruptured biceps that initially was expected to sideline him for three months. McIlorum’s inclusion was merited, the veteran providing a level of calm to Rovers as they began on the back foot.

After navigating a tricky period in difficult conditions, they went ahead when Lewis kicked a penalty after he was caught high by Ben Currie. For large periods of an engrossing and attritional opening 40 minutes, it looked as though that would be the only score of the half.

Josh Thewlis opens the scoring for Warrington. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock

But with two minutes to go until the break, Warrington struck. Sneyd’s kick bounced off a defender and into the arms of Thewlis, who scored in the corner before Sneyd nervelessly converted from the touchline to make it 6-2.

Rovers offered little in the way of a meaningful threat and Warrington seemed to have the game within their grasp, with Sneyd kicking them safe on multiple occasions. But then, as time ticked away, Warrington failed to deal with a Tyrone May kick, Davies pounced and Lewis converted to create history for the Robins.

Rampant Wigan set record final win

Wigan Warriors’ EIsabel Rowe surges forward to score a try at Wembley. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The Saints had won the past four Wembley finals but they were no match for Wigan. Tries from Megan Williams, Mary Coleman and Emily Veivers put the Warriors into a commanding 18-0 lead by half-time and though you wondered whether St Helens’ big-match experience could help them mount a comeback, they were once again second-best after half-time.