1991 World Club Challenge

1991 (1991) World Club Challenge  ()
Anfield hosted the match
Wigan Penrith Panthers (RFL) (NSWRL) 21 4
1 2 Total WIG 14 7 21 PEN 4 0 4
Date	2 October 1991
Stadium	Anfield
Location	Liverpool, England
Frano Botica
Referee	Alain Sablayrolles
Attendance	20,152
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	BBC Network Ten
Commentators	Ray French Alex Murphy
World Club Challenge ← 1989 1992 →

The 1991 World Club Challenge (marketed as the Foster's World Club Challenge due to sponsorship from the brewer^[1]) was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday 2 October 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool. A crowd of 20,152^[2] was in attendance for the game which was refereed by Frenchman Alain Sablayrolles.

Wigan

Penrith

FB 1 Steve Hampson RW 2 David Myers CE 3 Sam Panapa CE 4 Joe Lydon LW 5 Frano Botica SO 6 Shaun Edwards SH 7 Andy Gregory (c) PR 8 Kelvin Skerrett HK 9 Martin Dermott PR 10 Andy Platt SR 11 Denis Betts SR 12 Billy McGinty LF 13 Phil Clarke Substitutions: IC 14 Ian Lucas IC 15 Ian Gildart IC 16 Neil Cowie IC 17 Mike Forshaw Coach: John Monie

FB 1 Greg Barwick RW 2 Darren Willis CE 3 Graeme Bradley CE 4 Brad Izzard LW 5 Graham Mackay FE 6 Steve Carter HB 7 Greg Alexander (c) PR 8 Brandon Lee HK 9 Royce Simmons PR 10 Paul Dunn SR 11 Paul Clarke SR 12 John Cartwright LK 13 Colin van der Voort Substitutions: IC 14 Ben Alexander IC 15 Grant Izzard IC 16 Tony Xuereb IC 17 Paul Smith Coach: Phil Gould

Wednesday 2 October

Wigan	21 – 4	Penrith Panthers
Tries: David Myers Sam Panapa Goals: Frano Botica (6) Field Goals: Joe Lydon (1)	[3]	Tries: Darren Willis Goals: Greg Alexander (0/2)

Anfield, Liverpool Attendance: 20,152 Referee: Alain Sablayrolles Player of the Match: Frano Botica

Penrith were without their star grand final forward Mark Geyer due to ankle injury that required surgery while Brad Fittler was unavailable as he was part of the Australian Kangaroos team on their end of season tour of Papua New Guinea (Fittler made his test debut for Australia 4 days after the WCC).^[4] By just the 13th minute Wigan had gotten away to a handy lead with the score at 8 - 0 after Frano Botica kicked four consecutive penalties. Penrith then answered five minutes later with an unconverted try from Darren Wills. However this was to be the last time Penrith scored in the match. Wigan's Sam Panapa got their first try in the 27th minute which was converted by Botica, bringing the scoreline to 14 - 4 which lasted until half-time.^{[citation needed]}

No points were scored in the second half of the game until two thirds of the way through when Botica kicked a fifth penalty goal. David Myers scored Wigan's second try and the last of the match in the 77th minute. Just before the full-time whistle, Joe Lydon successfully kicked a field goal, adding insult to injury and making the final score Wigan 21, Penrith 4.^{[citation needed]}

• 1991 World Club Challenge at wigan.rlfans.com
• 1991 World Club Challenge at rugbyleagueproject.com
• 1991 World Club Challenge at superleague.co.uk