Broncos pack punch
LONDON BRONCOS are back in the Super League for the first time since 2014 after destroying Toronto’s dream at a disbelieving Lamport Stadium.
The two Championship rivals faced off for the right to replace relegated Widnes in the top flight next year.
In a tight, tense, tryless encounter, Danny Ward’s Broncos ground out a famous success thanks to two penalties from Jarrod Sammut and an outstanding defensive effort.
Rookie head coach Ward, the former prop who helped Leeds Rhinos to their first Super League title in 32 years in 2004, has proved a huge success in his first year in charge.
He was promoted from assistant coach at the end of last season when Andrew Henderson jumped ship for Warrington and guided London into second spot in the Championship this year.
Negotiating the Qualifiers to reach the Million Pound Game and ultimately win promotion is the stuff of fairy
TORONTO WOLFPACK
tales for the and his side.
As one dream was realised, another died as Toronto will remain in the Championship in 2019 after failing at the final hurdle.
Paul Rowley’s side won promotion at the first attempt last season and were aiming for a second successive rise, but their discipline constantly undermined them last night.
Toronto’s owner David Argyle had spoken before the game about how promotion would allow the club to play Super League games across Europe next season at cities such as Dublin and Copenhagen.
That will now not happen and it is London who can start preparing for life in the big time again and battles with the likes of Leeds, St Helens and Wigan.
London had lost twice in Toronto already this season, during the regular league campaign and again in the Qualifiers last month. There Yorkshireman was drama inside the opening minute when a high bomb from Blake Wallace was spilled by London full-back Alex Walker and Gareth O’Brien scampered over the line to ground the ball.
But the score was referred to video referee Phil Bentham and he ruled there had been an offside in the build-up, so no try was awarded.
It was a huge let-off for the Broncos and they gradually steadied themselves before enjoying a period of pressure of their own.
Wales prop Ben Evans was held up underneath the posts in the eighth minute as the visitors went in search of the opening score.
Aussie playmaker Sammut, who guided London around the park superbly, kicked a penalty in the ninth minute to put his team 2-0 up.
The Broncos were the better side in the opening quarter and Walker showed impressive defensive skills to field another high kick from Wallace. The pendulum gradually swung towards Toronto as the first half progressed but the Broncos refused to buckle. In the 32nd minute, the Wolfpack’s discipline let them down as Andy Ackers caught Eloi Pelissier high and late, earning him 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
Moments later, Toronto forced the first drop-out of the game after a clever kick from O’Brien trapped London inside their in-goal area.
From there, the Broncos broke upfield and Sammut almost burst clear to score, only for a vital intervention by Mason Caton-Brown to deny him.
Three minutes before the break, Josh McCrone was held up over the line by three London defenders. It said much for the spirit and desire in the Broncos’ ranks.
As London were penalised for a ball steal in the 56th minute, O’Brien kicked an equalising penalty from distance to level the scores.
Wallace then knocked on from the restart to force a home drop-out, from which Toronto conceded a penalty when Jack Buchanan floored Mark Ioane.
Sammut went for the goal with the subsequent penalty in the 58th minute – and he kicked it to give the Broncos an advantage they did not surrender.