Lancashire Cup Final

Date: 01 May 2013

Preston Grasshoppers vs. Sedgley Park – Lancashire Cup Final

Jack Ward

Jack Ward wrapped up by Tigers defenders in last years’ final. Photo courtesy of Mike Craig.

In the unusual circumstance of still one league game to be played, Hoppers have the important task of defending their Lancashire Cup holders title on Bank Holiday Monday against National 1 Sedgley Park in a repeat of last years final on the Fylde coast.

The game is being played at Sedgley’s Park Lane ground with kick off scheduled for 3.00pm.

Victory would be icing on the cake at the end of a season where once again Hoppers young players have gained experience alongside a few old heads in the squad during 2012/13.

Victory over local rivals Fylde always tastes sweet, but on their own ground in the Semi Final of the competition has given Hoppers the chance to lift the John Burgess trophy for the fourth time in their history and the first consecutively. Coincidentally two of our three our victories were at Sedgley’s Park Lane ground which could be a good omen.

Sedgley Park and Hoppers aren’t strangers to each other in this competition, this being there second meeting in a final. The first was at Lightfoot Green back in 2000/2001, when the home team lost narrowly. The next meeting in 2004/5 was the first of four within six seasons, Hoppers winning three and Park the other after scoring more tries in a twenty seven all drawn game. So the total to date stands at four to two in favour of Hoppers.

Since the competition was resurrected in 1971, Sedgley Park have made six previous appearances in the final winning three times Before last year, five seasons ago when they lost to Waterloo. Their first final was in the 2000/2001 season when they lost to Manchester quickly bouncing back the following season defeating Fylde.

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