1991 World Club Challenge

The 1991 World Club Challenge (marketed as the Foster's World Club Challenge due to sponsorship from the brewer[1]) was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday 2 October 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool. A crowd of 20,152[2] was in attendance for the game which was refereed by Frenchman Alain Sablayrolles.

1991 (1991) World Club Challenge  ()
Anfield hosted the match
12 Total
WIG 147 21
PEN 40 4
Date2 October 1991
StadiumAnfield
LocationLiverpool, England
Frano Botica
RefereeAlain Sablayrolles France
Attendance20,152
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
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Teams

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Wigan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Penrith
FB 1 Steve Hampson
RW 2 David Myers
CE 3 Sam Panapa
CE 4 Joe Lydon
LW 5 Frano Botica
SO 6 Shaun Edwards
SH 7 Andy Gregory (c)
PR 8 Kelvin Skerrett
HK 9 Martin Dermott
PR 10 Andy Platt
SR 11 Denis Betts
SR 12 Billy McGinty
LF 13 Phil Clarke
Substitutions:
IC 14 Ian Lucas
IC 15 Ian Gildart
IC 16 Neil Cowie
IC 17 Mike Forshaw
Coach:
  John Monie
FB 1 Greg Barwick
RW 2 Darren Willis
CE 3 Graeme Bradley
CE 4 Brad Izzard
LW 5 Graham Mackay
FE 6 Steve Carter
HB 7 Greg Alexander (c)
PR 8 Brandon Lee
HK 9 Royce Simmons
PR 10 Paul Dunn
SR 11 Paul Clarke
SR 12 John Cartwright
LK 13 Colin van der Voort
Substitutions:
IC 14 Ben Alexander
IC 15 Grant Izzard
IC 16 Tony Xuereb
IC 17 Paul Smith
Coach:
  Phil Gould

Match details

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Wednesday 2 October
Wigan   21 – 4   Penrith Panthers
Tries:
David Myers
Sam Panapa
Goals:
Frano Botica (6)
Field Goals:
Joe Lydon (1)
[3]
Tries:
Darren Willis

Goals:
Greg Alexander (0/2)
Anfield, Liverpool
Attendance: 20,152
Referee: Alain Sablayrolles  
Player of the Match: Frano Botica  

Penrith were without their star grand final forward Mark Geyer due to ankle injury that required surgery while Brad Fittler was unavailable as he was part of the Australian Kangaroos team on their end of season tour of Papua New Guinea (Fittler made his test debut for Australia 4 days after the WCC).[4] By just the 13th minute Wigan had gotten away to a handy lead with the score at 8 - 0 after Frano Botica kicked four consecutive penalties. Penrith then answered five minutes later with an unconverted try from Darren Wills. However this was to be the last time Penrith scored in the match. Wigan's Sam Panapa got their first try in the 27th minute which was converted by Botica, bringing the scoreline to 14 - 4 which lasted until half-time.[citation needed]

No points were scored in the second half of the game until two thirds of the way through when Botica kicked a fifth penalty goal. David Myers scored Wigan's second try and the last of the match in the 77th minute. Just before the full-time whistle, Joe Lydon successfully kicked a field goal, adding insult to injury and making the final score Wigan 21, Penrith 4.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ McKeone, Dermot H. (1995). Measuring your media profile. Gower Publishing, Ltd. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-566-07578-0.
  2. ^ HighBeam[dead link]
  3. ^ 1991 WCC - Wigan vs Penrith
  4. ^ "Geyer out for ankle surgery". The Sun-Herald. 28 September 1991. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
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