London calling for rugby league fans but Leeds supporters have to face the music

It was one of those incongruous moments where you have to stop and give yourself a reality check. But then again what else would you expect? This is Challenge Cup final weekend after all.

For that's when, for one weekend, the northern heartlands of the game descend on the nation's capital for a fixture which brings the entire sport together like no other.

Forget Danny Zuko, the main attraction for Leeds fans this weekend is Danny McGuire. The Friday matinee showing was just a starter before their main course.

Hopelessly Devoted to Leeds, Greased Rhinos or just Summer Loving at Headingley, the puns are endless, just like the pints of beer as London is drunk dry with fans from Hull, Bradford, Castleford, Sheffield and Huddersfield rubbing shoulders in the local hostelries.

Every Wembley final is special, but the Challenge Cup final is like a festival.

You can always tell when the Leeds music festival rolls round on the calendar; every other person in Leeds seems to wear wellies and is seen lugging around an oversized rucksack.

That's how Londoners must feel when their tubes and trains are packed with rugby-singing fans boasting a rainbow assortment of coloured shirts.

When Manchester United play Chelsea in the FA Cup Final it's red or blue and nothing in between, but the entire rugby league family come out for the Challenge Cup final, the black and whites and everything in between.

Not that there was much colour variance on the pitch, the yellow away kit of Leeds clashing badly with the blue and yellow attire of opponents Warrington.

Video referee Ian Smith had no trouble sorting his blues and yellows out in the opening minutes, however, as he ruled that Ryan Bailey had failed to ground the ball.

And certainly Lee Briers had no trouble picking out team-mate Ryan Atkins for the former Wakefield Trinity centre to score the first try of the final at a sun-drenched Wembley.

Packed to the rafters, save for the empty blocks reserved for the prawn sandwich brigade, it was an enthralling opening between the Super League champions and Challenge Cup holders.

Missing forward power in Luke Burgess and Jamie Peacock – who came out before kick off all suited and booted to greet the Rhinos fans at one end of the stadium – it was always going to be a massive ask for the Yorkshire club.

They weren't helped when a pass out wide to Ryan Hall was adjudged forward by match referee Richard Silverwood. Trailing 8-0, Leeds needed some good fortune, but the winger was halted in his tracks and when the Wolves returned the ball with interest for Leeds-born Atkins to score his second try of the afternoon, the Rhinos were clearly in trouble.

It had been 11 years since Leeds had last played at Wembley – they beat London Broncos 52-16 in the last Challenge Cup final under the old Twin Towers – and they needed something special in the second half.

The sickening sight of Danny McGuire – so often the hub of any Leeds attack – laying prone on the pitch had Rhinos supporters holding their breath. Stretchers were called for and it looked like the paramedics would be carting off any chance of Leeds getting back into the game.

But McGuire was soon back on his feet, although judging by attempts from some in the crowd to start a Mexican Wave, the contest was already over.

And when a bulldozing run by Leeds centre Brett Delaney saw him held up over the line, it was hard to argue a case against Tony Smith's Wolves retaining their trophy.

Chris Hicks plucked Lance Todd Trophy winner Lee Briers's lofted kick out of the sky to score Warrington's fourth try and the relief was tangible amongst the Cheshire club's ranks.

It was now the Wolves flags which were being swirled around the stadium as the celebrations started 20 minutes before the end.

Maybe that relaxed mood drifted down to the players as Lee Smith raced over for a converted try and at 20-6, there was enough hope for the Leeds band to renew their Rhinos renditions.

With news that Briers had won the man of the match award, Hicks completed his hat-trick, and while it was too late to earn him individual reward it finally ended the hopes of any Leeds fightback.

Ten minutes remaining and Rhinos supporters had seen enough as they headed for the exits in their droves.

For those Grease-loving Leeds fans, a weekend which had started with frivolity and a West End musical had turned into something of a horror story. More Rydell High, less Wembley high.

Leeds must now turn their attentions to Hull FC on Saturday and their bid to win the Grand Final for a fourth consecutive year as they look to provide an encore on what has been a season of under-performance so far in 2010.