WILDERSPOOL has staged many bad tempered matches but nothing
compares to the New Year's Day 'derby'
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Story by
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Club supported by author
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Year of story
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Date of Submission
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Eddie Gordo - Match
Report from www.thisiswarringtonwolves.co.uk
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Warrington
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1998
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14/12/2003
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Warrington v Wigan, 1 January, 1988
NEW YEAR'S DAY PUNCH-UP
WILDERSPOOL has staged many bad tempered matches but nothing
compares to the New Year's Day 'derby' against Wigan in 1988.
While the game itself had a dramatic finale, it was the opening
20 minutes which captured all the headlines.
Wilderspool's biggest 'gate' of the season and highest league
attendance for 15 years - 10,056 - ended up watching an 11-a-side
game.
Southport referee Kevin Allatt sent four players off as the
game boiled over. Another player was sent to the sin bin.
Afterwards, Warrington coach Tony Barrow described the episode
as 'World War Three.'
The start was delayed eight minutes to allow the crowd to get
in but on the pitch there was trouble from the first minute
as Warrington's Les Boyd and Wigan's Adrian Shelford clashed.
 The Boyd
Gregory blue
There were other clashes before the game errupted on eight minutes,
when Boyd and Andy Gregory tangled. Players from both sides
piled in and Allatt ended up sending off Warrington's Tony Humphries
with Wigan's Shelford.
Boyd was ordered to the sin bin. Even that did not end the hostility
for on 20 minutes Wigan second rower Andy Goodway, currently
the Great Britain coach, felled Paul Cullen and was sent marching
to the tunnel.
As Goodway walked to the tunnel Cullen chased after him and
launched himself at the Wigan player. A new brawl erupted and
Cullen and Goodway had to be separated before the Warrington
centre was also dismissed.
Cullen's moment of madness cost him a two match ban and probably
cost Warrington victory, although Tony Barrow claimed at the
time that Goodway had stamped on Cullen as he trooped towards
the exit.
Thankfully, that was the end of the scenes but the game had
already been tarnished. Wigan then opened the scoring when Ellery
Hanley broke clear from the half way line.
Warrington responded with Australian Boyd leading the fightback.
His power running set up touch downs for Billy McGinty and Brian
Johnson. A drop goal from John Woods just before half-time gave
Warrington a 13-4 advantage.
Then Gregory added his influence. His kick brought a try for
Steve Hampson and then he was involved in the play that put
Hanley over for his second try that gave Wigan a 14-13 lead.
Woods put over a penalty for off side but Gregory's drop goal
two minutes from the end gave them a share of the spoils.
Warrington were in second place in the Stones Bitter Championship
at the time - chasing Widnes for the title.
Result: Warrington 15 Wigan 15
Team: Brian Johnson; Des Drummond, Paul Cullen, Joe Ropati,
David Lyon; John Woods, Martin Crompton; Les Boyd, Kevin
Tamati, Tony Humphries, Bob Jackson, Ronnie Duane,
Billy McGinty.
Subs: Mark Roberts, Gary Sanderson.
Tries: McGinty, Johnson.
Goals: Woods 3.
Drop goal: Woods
Appears in the following pages ....P43_Les BOYD, P90_Kevin TAMATI, P98_Andy GREGORY, P99_Ellery HANLEY
Date of posting ... 26-May-2003
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