London Challenge Cup Final

Wests Warriors 19

South-West London Chargers 18

Wests Warriors announced their arrival at the top table of London Rugby League with a stunning cup victory over South-West London Chargers.

In the best game of the season so far two evenly matched teams served up a terrific advert for the game in stifling heat at Twickenham RFC in Hampton.

Locked at 18-18 with just minutes remaining the game ended in dramatic fashion with the Warriors snatching victory with a drop goal.

The Warriors in their inaugural season play in the third tier of the London Rugby League competition. They were up against a Chargers side who were cup holders and current Premier Division leaders.

Reign over: South West London Chargers

But Wests showed scant regard for reputation as they raced into an early 12-0 lead with tries from Aaron Brown and Jonny Bell with Matt Ashe converting both.

However, the Chargers hit back with touchdowns by David Wojciechowicz, Sean Cookson and second row Joe Briggs, who collected his own chip kick in goal to score. However, Tom Lavis was unable to convert any of them which left the scores level at 12-12.

The Warriors went ahead again when Bell claimed his second try with Matt Ashe adding the extras but back came the Chargers with a touchdown from Luke Muttdon, which Lavis managed to convert to make it 18-18 at the interval.

Remarkably, neither side were able to break through steely defence in the second half with barely a missed tackle in the whole 40 minutes. With extra time looming the deadlock was finally broken by Ashe.

The Warriors playmaker positioned himself to the left of a play-the-ball 30 metres out and his cleanly struck drop goal enabled the Warriors to lift the Gordon Anderton Trophy by the narrowest of margins.