Delighted Huddersfield Amateur Rugby League Association officials have hailed Monday’s Holliday Cup final as one of the best of all time.

Newsome Panthers celebrated a stunning 24-18 triumph over Pennine League Championship I rivals St Joseph’s after scoring a converted try with two minutes of extra time remaining.

Jebel Ceesey’s late matchwinning score was a fitting finale to an epic encounter when it was a shame there had to be a loser.

But Huddersfield ARLA secretary Sue Taylor has revealed it wasn’t just the game itself that made this season’s showpiece event at Huddersfield YMCA’s Laund Hill complex such a memorable occasion.

“Everything about the day was fantastic,” she said.

“The last couple of finals have been a little disappointing, to be honest. As well as being relatively one-sided, they haven’t been the best supported and, as a result, the Holliday Cup final had lost a bit of its appeal.

“But that’s all been restored this season.

“We were treated to a fantastic final in front of a bumper crowd of over 1,000 by two perfectly-matched sides, It was also played in an excellent spirit, with Tony Martin (the vastly-experienced Oldham-based Super League touchjudge) and his match officials team of Jack Pullein, Cory McDonagh and Josh Ryan all playing their part in making that happen.

“I was also proud of the way both teams and clubs conducted themselves throughout the day, and it certainly made a positive impression on Rachel Blakey, who was representing sponsors Vivimed.

“On top of that, the officials up at the YMCA couldn’t have looked after us any better.

“That was also the case when we held the James Joseph Conlan Memorial Trophy final between Underbank and Meltham up there a couple of weeks earlier. That was also a great occasion.

“I’m sure everyone associated with the amateur game in Huddersfield will be hoping this season is the start of a new, exciting period for the sport in the town.”

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