1. Steve Hampson, 2. Tony Iro, 3. Dean Bell, 4. Joe Lydon, 5. Mark Preston, 6. Ellery Hanley, 7. Ged Byrne

WiganlTries:l

Andy Platt, Andy Goodway, Ellery Hanley

Joe Lydon 3

1. Alan Tait, 2. Jonathan Davies, 3. Andy Currier, 4. Darren Wright, 5. Martin Offiah, 6. David Hulme, 7. Paul Hulme

WidneslTries:l

Summary:l

So a title decider had been set up between these two meeting on the final day of the 1988/89 season. The match went ahead despite being in the shadow of the Hillsborough Disaster which had unfolded at the FA Cup Semi Final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest the day before. Wigan had won 16 games in both league and cup to get this far having been nine points off the league leadership in mid January.

Wigan got off to the perfect start with Andy Currier kicking the kick off out on the full. Straight away, Andy Platt ghosted through the Widnes defence to make it 6-0 after Joe Lydon converted against his old club. Jonathan Davies missed two penalties to settle Widnes down but in the 18th Minute, Alan Tait sent Martin Offiah over but the conversion missed. Next in the 26th Minute, Widnes made another blunder. Darren Wright was trapped on the last tackle with ball in hand and Wigan used the territory to score through Andy Goodway. Lydon converted again for 12-4 to Wigan. That would have been a fantastic position for Wigan to take into half time but Widnes found a crucial try just before the hooter. Offiah scooped up a loose ball to go under the posts and Davies converted for a 12-10 half time score.

Widnes then became the stronger side second half with tries from Kurt Sorensen, Offiah (completing his hat-trick) and Paul Hulme putting Widnes in good control. Ellery Hanley pulled a try back in the 64th Minute but Widnes had already done too much damage. Phil McKenzie's try three minutes from time ensured the championship would stay in Widnes but the match ended in farce with home supporters pouring onto the pitch before time had been played out.

Half Time:l

17,323

Referee:l