Sport in brief: October 4, 2026

Men’s Rugby League / 2 October 2026 Wakefield and Warrington set for Grand Final history 2 October 2026 The sport’s traditional powerhouses are absent as two historic rugby towns battle for the title, writes JAMES NALTON

JOHN WIGHT finds himself engrossed in David Tossell’s biography of the remarkable boxer Joe Bugner 

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: Wakefield Trinity continued their excellent end of season play-off form to see off Warrington 23-10 at Old Trafford on Saturday evening and win their first ever Super League Grand Final. 

Trinity last won England’s top-flight championship in 1968 while Warrington were suffering a fifth Grand Final defeat in the last 15 years. 

Wakefield winger Tom Johnstone picked up the Rob Burrows trophy as man of the match. 

WOMEN’S CYCLING: Newly crowned road race World Champion Demi Vollering followed up last week’s success by scooping the European title in Slovenia on Saturday afternoon. 

The Dutch racer finished five seconds clear of compatriot Puck Pieterse in second with Swiss time trial World Champion Marlen Reusser third and two-time Giro D’Italia winner Elisa Longo-Borghini fourth. 

There were no British riders taking part in the race.

MEN’S CRICKET: India defended their Asian Games Twenty20 title with Saturday’s 19 runs victory over Pakistan in Nisshin, Japan. 

Opener Abhishek Sharma blasted seven sixes in his 61 from 28 balls and Tilak Varma smashed a rapid unbeaten 51 as India posted 211-6. 

Pakistan responded poorly, slumping to 39-3, before Hasan Nawaz’s 96 gave their chase some hope. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar both took two wickets for the Indians.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: The New Saints thumped Cambrian 9-0 to stay six points clear in the Cymru Premier. 

Connah’s Quay moved second thanks to Hussein Mehasseb’s late goal in a 1-0 win over Penybont. Barry Town won 1-0 at Caernarfon, Airbus UK saw off Trefelin 3-0 and Briton Ferry Llansawel edged Colwyn Bay 1-0. 

Ammanford beat bottom club Holywell 2-1, Haverfordwest went down 1-0 to Flint Town and Cardiff Met won by the same score in Llandudno.

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