News
Widnes Vikings: Fans key to Northern Rail Cup final success at Blackpool ? head coach Paul Cullen
29th June 2009
WIDNES Vikings supporters young and old have been charged with the responsibility of boosting their side's chances of securing a famous Northern Rail Cup final victory.
Head coach Paul Cullen expects fans will play a crucial role in driving his players on against Barrow at Blackpool on Sunday, July 12 - just as they did in Sunday's semi-final at Halifax.
"The support was magnificent and we're hoping for even more at Bloomfield Road." said Cullen.
"I think we've now earned the right to get some of the lost Widnes fans back behind us.
"We'd like to go to the final with the full support of everyone who has been involved over the past few years, during a difficult period which has included relegation.
"But we're on the right track now and so we want to get these people back with us.
"A few months back, when we were getting well beaten, we had to ignore the boos and keep on playing.
"But the atmosphere at the club has now changed and I was delighted with the support and reaction of the fans at The Shay, as it has been an intimidating place to go the last two trips.
"It was our biggest game of the season and they helped us to come away with the spoils.
"I was pleased for the fans, the staff and the players like Anthony Thackeray, who haven't had it all their own way this season."
Cullen's semi-final heroes, who have no game this weekend, are enjoying a well-earned week's rest before returning to training on Sunday and stepping up their preparations for the big cup clash with Barrow.
Widnes will take on Doncaster a week on Saturday, July 4 at the Stobart Stadium Halton (ko 3pm), in a game that promises to provide some of Cullen's current fringe players with an opportunity to stake their claims for places in the squad for the big one.
Cullen added: "We had planned to peak for the Halifax game and so we couldn't do another week's training at that intensity as the players and staff didn't have much left afterwards. So a week off will do us all good.
"It's not a week of partying or celebrating, but one of rest and we'll start back again on Sunday ready to go.
"The most important thing on our agenda is the Northern Rail Cup final; the Doncaster game has its own merits and we will be looking to use our full squad.
"The likes of Scott Yates, Shane Grady, Lee Paterson and Stephen Bannister should all be ready for that one and can all make a pitch for the final."
The Widnes head coach, however, refused to accept his team are favourites for the showpiece event, after visiting Barrow inflicted a crushing 27-6 defeat on them in May.
"We need to remind everyone that they physically knocked us all around our own ground in the last game, with Brett McDermott, Liam Finch and Darren Holt running it. So we'll approach the game with the previous defeat in mind," he said.
by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
Photo shows Northern MD Heidi Mottram with the Widnes Vikings’ man of the match Anthony Thackeray at last Sunday’s semi final
