Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 22-26 Wigan Warriors, Sunday 12th April 2026

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 22-26 Wigan Warriors, Rugby League Challenge Cup Quarter Final, DIY Kitchen Stadium (Belle Vue), att. 8,051

Sarah is due in Huddersfield this afternoon. I look at the rugby league fixtures. I could drop her off, drive to Wakefield for a 1pm KO, see the match, and still be back to pick her up. Sounds like a plan. Only Sarah’s got her dates mixed up. She’s in Hudds next week. ‘How do you fancy a bit of rugby league?’ ‘Go on then’, she replies, though she’s been waiting on me taking her to see our local side the Giants.

I buy the tickets online. The seats are sold out, so we’ll have to make do with the North terrace. This is one of the oddest terraces I’ve ever seen, built in front of the old terrace, which is still there. A lot of the terrace is under cover, but by the time we get there it’s very busy and it looks like stewards are handing out wristbands to keep an eye on numbers. It’s ok, the terrace curls slightly round onto the East side, so we stand there, beside the main stand.

Considering how busy it is, there’s plenty of space by us. Not being rugby league aficionados, maybe it’s cos it doesn’t afford us a good perspective on whether any kicks are between the posts. But we’re happy, good view of the actual action, and we stay here for the game.

Besides the smart new one tier stand beside us, Belle Vue offers 4 tiers of what looks like portacabins stacked upon one another at the far end – the hospitality facilities. It’s bizarre, which is why I like it. Opposite us, the West side offers a narrow strip of terracing the length of the pitch, while there’s some cover near the hospitality end. This side is for the away fans, and Wigan pack it out today, about 1,500 of them.

Indeed, the atmosphere is buzzing, and not just from the cheerleaders, or the flamethrowers and fireworks let off to effect as the teams come out. I hate to say it, but in a disappointing season following a 3rd division football team (Barnsley) this is the best atmosphere I can remember all season. (Note: I’ve also seen Everton and Scotland, amongst others.) There’s a place in the semis up for grabs, and both sides have made a great start in the Super League, winning 5 and losing 2, to be joint top.

It’s end to end stuff, pacey and some brutal tackling. Basically, it’s rugby league. But it’s a great game, Trinity going 12-0 up and being ahead twice before losing narrowly. In a harsh lesson, a 10 minute sin-bin either side of half-time (for retaliation) does for them; they concede two tries in that period and that’s the difference. Still, it’s been a great game and I overhear a Wakey fan later say ‘I don’t mind losing like that.’ It’s been top stuff and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. And the myopic Sarah really liked that Trinity had a mascot who wore glasses. One for the short-sighted! Except it turns out they’re sunglasses. Ah well. He still looked like Penfold.

The Damage:
£20 ent
= £20