News
Next stop Leeds for Northern Rail 9s winners
30th July 2009
Blackpool Panthers' stunning victory in the Northern Rail 9s final has earned them the final place in the prestigious Carnegie Floodlit Nines tournament held at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Wednesday August 26.
Following their dramatic victory in the inaugural Blackpool competition, the Cooperative Championship 1 club will step out onto the famous Headingley Carnegie turf next month alongside 11 other clubs including five engage super league teams.
The Panthers won the inaugural Northern Rail 9s on home soil, after a nerve-jangling 14-10 victory over Sheffield Eagles in the final.
Blackpool Panthers coach, Martin Crompton, spoke of his excitement following their victory. He said: “It was a monumental effort and I'm so proud of all the players. We have pace throughout the team and nines suits us. We deserved to win because we played with discipline on the ball throughout the tournament. We showed our quality."
He continued: "Nines is an exciting and entertaining brand of rugby league. It is a big honour for a little club like ours to be invited to take part in the Carnegie Floodlit 9s. Our players and fans are looking forward to challenging Super League, international and representative teams next month in Leeds."
The Panthers will line up in Group B against forces opposition in Cheltenham 9s winners the Royal Navy and the British Army. Should they win through the group they will face current champions of the Carnegie Floodlit Nines, Huddersfield Giants.
Carnegie Floodlit 9s tournament director, Lionel Hurst, was present at Blackpool's history making moment. He said: "I was fortunate enough to witness the Panthers' pulsating encounter in the Northern Rail 9s Final. They will provide a stern challenge for the Army and the Royal Navy who are both specialists in the condensed version of the game."
Blackpool club Chairman John Chadwick added: "The Northern Rail 9s triumph was a marvellous achievement made even more fantastic by being in our home town. To now line up in the Carnegie Floodlit 9s against some of world rugby's biggest names will be fantastic for us. We intend to enjoy what will be a red letter day."
Blackpool's joy does not cease with the Nines as they will be entering Johnny Leather in the rugby league's Fastest Man sprint that will also unfold during the tournament.
Totesport has also compiled odds on all of the confirmed competitors for the race to find 'Rugby League's fastest man'
Current odds are:
- Kevin Penny 2/1 Warrington Wolves
- Scott Donald 4/1 Leeds Rhinos
- Dave Halley 9/2 Bradford Bulls & Wales
- Peter Fox 5/1 Hull KR & England
- Craig Calvert 6/1 Whitehaven and Cumbria
- Roy Calvert 6/1 Duhaney Park Sharks & Jamaica
- Paul Ballard 8/1 Celtic Crusaders
- Luke George 8/1 Wakefield Wildcats
- Johnny Leather 10/1 Blackpool Panthers
- Amos Roberts 12/1 Wigan Warriors
- James Ford 12/1 Castleford Tigers
- Tangi Ropati tbc Sheffield Eagles & Samoa
- James Nixon 6/1 Barrow & Cumbria
The Carnegie 9s draw:
- Qualifying Group A: Jamaica, Cumbria RL, Leeds Met Carnegie
- Qualifying Group B: Army RL, Royal Navy, Blackpool Panthers
Round 2
- Hull FC v Group A winners
- Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos
- Hull KR v Wakefield Wildcats
- Huddersfield Giants v Group B winners
Please see www.floodlit9s.co.uk for ticket information.
