Blacklock Hits Career High As Hull Snatch Thriller Final

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday August 29, 2005

Steve Kilgallon at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

LEEDS 24 HULL 25

Paul Cooke's last-minute try produced an upset in the English Challenge Cup final, proved the lock forward to be something of a prophet and gave teammate Nathan Blacklock a career highlight.

Hull had carved out a 19-12 second-half advantage before a 74,200 capacity crowd, only for Blacklock to allow Leeds winger Mark Calderwood to duck under his lazy challenge for a 50-metre try that propelled the Super League champions into a 24-19 lead.

But Cooke then intervened with a solo effort that ensured Blacklock would not be copping the blame for Hull missing out on their first Challenge Cup in 23 years.

"It was a bloody relief - I wanted to kiss him," said Blacklock, a 1999 NRL grand final loser with St George. "We'd worked so hard, then I didn't really commit myself to a half-hearted tackle which I admit I should have done. But it was Cookie who came to me and said, 'Keep your head up, there's a long time to go'."

They proved to be wise words, as this game was undecided until the final moments - the sides were level 6-6 at half-time, then again at 12-12 before Hull went ahead when Leeds winger Marcus Bai committed an in-goal blunder, handing the ball to Hull centre Richard Whiting.

Even at the death, Hull skipper Richard Swain had to block a drop-goal attempt from Kevin Sinfield that would have forced a replay.

Blacklock, switched to fullback when Shaun Briscoe withdrew with appendicitis, admitted to half-time flashbacks of the 1999 grand final defeat, but said: "To appreciate one, you have got to lose one. I will appreciate this one, it's up there with the best."