- World Club Challenge: Penrith Panthers 12-13 St Helens
- Lewis Dodd kicks winning point after hosts rally from 10-0 down
St Helens have become the first English rugby league club to win in Australia for almost 30 years after defying the odds to defeat Penrith Panthers and win a dramatic World Club Challenge in golden point extra-time.
Wigan were the last English side to make the trip to Australia for the game and win, when they defeated Brisbane in 1994. Since then, Super League clubs have largely suffered humiliation on their excursions Down Under but this St Helens side, one of the greatest in recent years, were outstanding from start to finish in the new head coach Paul Wellens’ first game in charge.
The Super League champions looked set to win in normal time before Brian To’o’s try one minute from the end sent the game to “golden point” overtime. The Saints held their nerve, though, and Lewis Dodd kicked the winning drop goal to ensure St Helens were crowned the world’s best side for the third time in their history.
The Saints, who have won the last four Super League titles and dominated the British game in recent years, were written off by many in Australia before a ball had even been kicked. But they produced an inspired display to frustrate the hosts, who had seven players that featured in last year’s World Cup final in their side.
The visitors forged a 10-0 lead at half-time thanks to tries from Jack Welsby, the game’s outstanding player, and Konrad Hurrell. But at the other end, they defended incredibly on numerous occasions to deny the Panthers and keep the back-to-back NRL champions scoreless at the break.
from The Guardian https://ift.tt/DCWdeT3
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