This is how sports editor Mike Parsons reported on the hooter Warrington's unforgettable 2009 Challenge Cup Final win against Huddersfield Giants at Wembley...

OH, what a glorious day.

The Challenge Cup is on its way home to Warrington.

Such emotion. Jubilation and tears all rolled into one.

And pride, too. Pride of the Wolves, pride in being Warringtonian.

Seventeen heroes on the pitch and 25,000 of them in the stands, all around the stadium and outnumbering their Huddersfield counterparts more than two to one.

It was an all-round team performance, everyone playing their part with Michael Monaghan finally coming out on top in the media vote to win the Lance Todd Trophy as the player of the match.

It was Monaghan’s brilliant offload which put Vinnie Anderson over for the decisive try 24 minutes into the second half.

It has been such a long time since the town’s premier club has been able to galvanise the community it serves in such a heartwarming and harmonious way.

Up to 25,000 Warrington fans singing their hearts out for the lads made hairs stand on end and sent shivers down the spine. By the end of Abide With Me some were quivering wrecks and the real action had not even started.

Boy, oh boy, Wolves have come a long way.

Twelve years ago the club was on its knees, battling against crippling debts at the dilapidated but much-cherished Wilderspool Stadium.

Along came the new breed of Wolf.

A new board of directors, headed by chairman Lord Hoyle, deputy Steve Broomhead, chief executive Andy Gatcliffe and owner Simon Moran.

And, of course, then came the catalyst.

The Halliwell Jones Stadium arrived in 2004 and the good times were on their way back.

In Moran’s own acceptance, it has taken longer to deliver a major final appearance than had been envisaged but, wow, this magnificent occasion, this triumphant cup final performance has been worth the wait.

Just like in the semi-final success against Wigan, magnificent Wolves made a fast start and built up an half-time lead that they thoroughly deserved.

Some awesome defence, pegging Huddersfield back, and willingness to throw the ball around left Giants chasing round in circles at times.

But the eight-point lead was not as convincing as the 32-8 advantage they held over Wigan early in the second half earlier this month and a much stronger second 40 minutes was needed on this occasion.

And that was exactly what they achieved.

Wolves battled for every yard, every ounce of possession – exactly the type of true grit that wins cup finals.

What a start to the game, which was played at a frantic pace.

Wolves scored after just 69 seconds.

A great defensive opening set kept Huddersfield pinned deep inside their own territory and Louis Anderson charged down Brett Hodgson’s clearance kick.

Louis regathered and headed to the line before being hauled down 10 metres short.

Adrian Morley tried to pummel his way over on the next tackle and was inches from the line.

But there was no stopping Richie Mathers from deep as he burrowed beneath three defenders to touch down, with Chris Bridge converting.

Wolves survived a ninth minute scare as Shaun Lunt had a try disallowed for double movement, meaning Wolves held out on their line for three successive sets.

But Lunt had his moment two minutes later, finishing off a break from Brett Hodgson on the back of a great offload from David Faiumu. Brett Hodgson converted and the sides were level, but not for long.

Darrell Griffin knocked on second tackle from the re-start and Michael Monaghan made him pay when he darted through a huge hole from dummy half just three minutes later. Bridge banged over the extras and it was 12-6.

Ferocious Wolves then struck again.

A kick to the left early in the tackle count set Chris Riley free and when he was held down Wolves had a penalty just 30 metres out.

Wolves shifted the ball right where Lee Briers picked out Chris Bridge and silky hands allowed Chris Hicks to get on the outside of a weak tackle from David Hodgson and cross over. Again reliable Bridge booted the conversion for an 18-6 advantage.

Wolves then had a try ruled out. Matt King and Leroy Cudjoe battled to win possession in the air from Briers’ towering kick.

King got the ball down in the 22nd minute but video referee Phil Bentham, of Warrington, ruled King had stolen the ball off Cudjoe while Ben Harrison was also in the tackle. It looked a harsh call though.

Two penalties awarded by referee Steve Ganson conceded on the trot, one for a Ben Westwood punch and the other for offside, put Wolves under pressure.

Luke Robinson, Kevin Brown worked an opening for David Hodgson on the Huddersfield left but only – as ruled by Bentham – after there had been an obstruction on Bridge and the score was ruled out.

Huddersfield did pull four points back though in the third minute of stoppage time.

Riley cleared a kick but Giants had six more and made it count when a runaround move on the right resulted in Cudjoe getting his hands free in Riley’s tackle to put Brett Hodgson over on his inside. Brett Hodgson failed to convert.

Wolves got into position to launch two try raids at the start of the second half but the determination to keep the ball alive ended up a little sloppy as possession was squandered.

But Wolves did get the crucial first try of the second half to really put the skids under Huddersfield.

Monaghan’s wonderful offload beat four players and found head-bandaged Vinnie Anderson in acres of space to dart over from 15 metres. Bridge’s goal put Wolves 24-10 in front and well in control.

Huddersfield were trying everything to get back into it but a mix of great defence and some clumsy handling meant Wolves were getting closer and closer to glory day with every minute that passed.

A converted 79th minute try from David Hodgson cut the gap to eight points but time was running out.

Still time for a Lee Briers drop goal in stoppage time though, giving everyone a reminder that Wolves have had such an occasion to savour as a result of that showstealing one-pointer in golden-point time at Hull KR in the quarter finals.

Wolves: Richie Mathers; Chris Hicks, Chris Bridge, Matt King, Chris Riley; Vinnie Anderson, Lee Briers; Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan, Garreth Carvell, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison. Subs: Mike Cooper, Paul Johnson, Mickey Higham, Tyrone McCarthy.

Giants: Brett Hodgson; Leroy Cudjoe, Jamahl Lolesi, Paul Whatuira, David Hodgson; Kevin Brown, Luke Robinson; Keith Mason, Shaun Lunt, Darrell Griffin, Liam Fulton, Stephen Wild, David Faiumu. Subs: Eorl Crabtree, Paul Jackson, Scott Moore, Martin Aspinwall.

Attendance: 76,560