“It’s a great occasion to be part of”: Lancashire look forward to County Championship final

Loney’s team won their Roses battle with Yorkshire over two legs to secure an Allianz Stadium showdown with holders Kent or Cornwall on June 6.

Yorkshire edged last Saturday’s rematch at Hull Ionians, 22-20, but Lancashire’s 20-point advantage from the previous weekend’s clash at Fylde saw them through on aggregate.

“It was a full-blooded affair and as tight as the scoreline suggests,” said Loney, whose side were never in front at Hull but recovered from a 12-0 deficit to remain within a score for the rest of the game.

“It’s a weird feeling to have lost on the day but won over the two legs – but we’re happy with parts of how we played.

“We tried to get away from the idea that we were starting 20-0 up but it was a factor.

“We never let them get too far ahead and we had chances to score a few ourselves. With a little more accuracy we could have scored more.”

There were nervy moments, though, particularly when Lancashire captain Chris Johnson was sinbinned with his side 22-15 down in the second half.

“It was a bit edgy at that point,” admitted Loney.

“We were without our fly-half and the wheels could have come off.

“If they had scored the game could have gone the other way, but we managed that time unbelievably well and had good field position ourselves.”

Leo Gilliland, one of the nine Fylde players involved, played his part with two tries on Saturday and three over the two games.

Loney said: “Leo has taken some chances and his first try, especially, was a proper winger’s finish, but we’ve looked threatening across the backline.”

Lancashire must wait three weeks for the final and won’t know their opponents until the last of them as the southern sides contest their semi over the next two Saturdays.

Cornwall host the first leg at Camborne RFC on Saturday, followed by the return meeting at Charlton Park RFC seven days later (both 2pm).

“Whoever we play, we know there’s a lot we can be better at,” said Loney.

“We’ll have this week off as the players have gone back-to-back after a long season, then we’ll have some sessions in the two weeks leading up to the final.”

Lancashire may be the record 25-time winners of the championship, but last triumphed in 2018 and have contested only one final since.

That came in 2023 when Kent celebrated the first of their three successive wins.

Loney played in the 2018 team which defeated Hertfordshire and coached the 2023 side, and it’s no surprise which he remembers more fondly.

“A few of the guys are still dining out on 2018 but we don’t want it to be the last,” he said.

“We didn’t get over the line last time and we don’t want that disappointment again.

“It’s a great occasion to be part of and this is why we extend the season.”