Sheffield Eagles and Wakefield Trinity Set for Emotional 1895 Cup Final Clash at Wembley
The 1895 Cup final on Saturday will see two close friends and former Sheffield Eagles teammates, Mark Aston and Daryl Powell, go head-to-head as rival head coaches when their sides meet at Wembley.
“Daryl and I did everything together as Sheffield Eagles team-mates from 1985/86 onwards,” Aston told Love Rugby League. “We went into schools as coaches to develop the game of rugby league in Sheffield. We were big mates and still are, although we obviously don’t see as much of each other as we used to.”
The two Yorkshiremen have crossed paths as rival head coaches over the years, with Powell’s Featherstone Rovers side thumping the Eagles 40-4 in the 2011 Championship Grand Final, only for Aston’s men to exact revenge the following year. Now, with the scores tied at 1-1 in major finals between the two, Saturday’s clash holds added significance.
Aston Relishes Opportunity to Create More Memories at Wembley
Aston, whose son Cory plays for the Eagles, guided the club to victory in the inaugural 1895 Cup final in 2019, and is relishing the opportunity to create more special memories at Wembley.
“This is what we’re in the great sport of rugby league for,” he enthused. “It’s about making memories and fortunately as a player I played at Wembley in the 1998 Challenge Cup final against Wigan, and then coached us to victory against Widnes in the final of the 1895 Cup in 2019.”
Powell Believes Wakefield in a “Great Place” Under New Owner
Meanwhile, Powell, 58, believes the club is in a “great place” under new owner Matt Ellis, with hopes of an immediate return to Super League next season high following the signings of England duo Mike McMeeken and Tom Johnstone.
“There have been a few teething issues, and Matt is having to work through a fair bit, but ultimately there’s a real buzz around the place,” Powell told Love Rugby League. “The fans are coming in fair numbers and the away support is massive, so this weekend we get an opportunity to hopefully do something special.”
With the rich history and close friendship between the two coaches adding an extra layer of intrigue, the 1895 Cup final promises to be a thrilling encounter between two clubs with a deep connection to the sport of rugby league in Yorkshire.
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