Wolves prove bigger draw for final

Warrington will be the better supported side and the bookies' favourites at Wembley on Saturday.

The Wolves, in the Challenge Cup final for the first time in 19 years, sold the second batch of their ticket allocation yesterday, which means that they will have at least 15,000 supporters at the ground.

Huddersfield, last in the final in 2006 but not at Wembley since 1962, are still working their way through their initial allocation of 10,000. The Giants have succeeded in driving up their home crowds in recent years, partly on the strength of bargain offers, but this has not been reflected in a similar increase in their away support. Warrington have also edged ahead in the betting on what is widely seen as the most open final for a long time.

Kevin Penny, regarded as the most exciting young winger in the game two years ago, had it confirmed for him yesterday that he will not be involved with Warrington at Wembley when he was named in the squad for the Carnegie Nines at Headingley tonight instead. Penny, recalled from a loan spell at Widnes, has played in the last two games for the Wolves.

The match on Saturday will be refereed by Steve Ganson, his third final after officiating in both 2005 and 2008.

Gareth Hock's two-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine will be confirmed today when the deadline passes for him to appeal against his ban.

The Wigan and England second-rower's sentence will be back-dated to the match against Salford in June after which he returned a positive sample.

Wigan have discussed using him as a drugs awareness spokesman in local schools, but Hock is not allowed to have any formal links with the club during his suspension. He will be 27 by the time he has served his ban.