2007 World Club Challenge

The 2007 Carnegie World Club Challenge was played between Super League XI champions, St Helens RFC and NRL season 2006 premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. It was a replay of the 2001 World Club Challenge, and both clubs' fifth WCC appearance. The match was played on the night of 23 February at Reebok Stadium, Bolton before a crowd of 23,207.

The Broncos were the first to score when St. Helens winger Ade Gardner failed to secure a Darren Lockyer cross-field bomb close to his own try line, providing Brisbane's second-rower Corey Parker with a gift try which he went on to successfully convert. A further two points were added when a Matt Gidley tackle on Shaun Berrigan resulted in Australian referee Steve Clarke awarding a penalty to the Broncos. The Saints hit back though with a movement out wide finished off by Gardner. Paul Sculthorpe successfully adding the extra two saw a half-time scoreline of 8 - 6 in favour of the visitors.

In the second half Brisbane were once again the first to score, with their captain Darren Lockyer kicking across field for winger Darius Boyd to catch the ball and get a try. St. Helens Loose forward Sculthorpe then scored a try at the other end which he also converted, levelling the score at 12 all. Another tackling infringement by Gidley brought about a penalty, which the Broncos successfully kicked, giving them a two-point lead going into the final quarter of the match. But in the 70th minute, from 20 metres out, Sean Long put a high kick across field and Ade Garnder, leaping up over the Brisbane defence, caught the ball and came down with it over the try-line, putting the Saints in front and ensuring a tense final ten minutes. The conversion from Sculthorpe brought the score to 18 - 14 in favour of the European champions, who managed to preserve that scoreline until the final siren. The win meant a clean sweep of the trophies for St. Helens, who had already won the 2006 Challenge Cup and the 2006 Super League Grand Final.

ee also

*St Helens RFC 2007
*Brisbane Broncos 2007

External links

* [http://www.superleague.co.uk/wcc_2007.php?rid=321 2007 World Club Challenge at superleague.co.uk]
* [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/matches/World_Club_Challenge_2007/St_Helens-vs-Brisbane_Broncos.html 2007 World Club Challenge at rugbyleagueproject.com]
* [http://www.rlphotos.com/2007specials/WCC1/index.htm 2007 World Club Chalenge at rlphotos.com]