Bradford Dudley Hill, motivated by the chokers' tag they were given in Saturday's Telegraph & Argus, cast that off yesterday to win a thrilling LHF Healthplan National League Three Grand Final.
And they did it in style, hitting back from 26-16 down after 56 minutes to defeat derby rivals Bramley Buffaloes 28-26 at the Halton Stadium, Widnes.
The headline may have caused consternation but they used it as a motivating factor to win their first Grand Final, having dominated the regular League Three season in 2003 and 2004 without reaching the decider.
And Dudley Hill's secretary Mark Tordoff was honest enough to confess: "It wasn't so much a monkey off our backs as King Kong.
"I know I am going grey but now I have gone absolutely white after this match, and the climax to it must have been watched by about 3,000."
Tordoff added: "Our coach Graeme Hallas was extremely pleased with the result because a lot of hard work over a long period of time has gone in to make this happen."
A Gareth Walker try put Hill in front after 11 minutes, man of the match Tony Williams adding the goal, but the contest was squared up five minutes later with a Chris Gardner try and a Paul Drake goal.
In the 23rd minute, Hill's Alex Dickinson was held inches short, a quick play-the-ball giving influential second-rower Chris Marsh the chance to go over from acting half-back.
Bramley, who had defeated Hill in the qualifying semi-final at Parry Lane a fortnight previously, went ahead in the 34th minute, substitute Graeme Harrison going over from acting half and Drake adding the extras.
And the Buffaloes made it 18-10 in the 39th minute when Hill were penalised for flopping and for back-chat, former Parry Laner Marc Gibson going over from 20 metres out, Drake converting.
He added a penalty in the 45th minute but Hill stopped the rot with a Williams try nine minutes later, his goal reducing Bramley's lead to 20-16.
However, a late challenge by substitute second-rower Liam Jordan led to him being sin-binned in the 54th minute.
The Buffaloes capitalised with a Gibson try and Drake goal to go 26-16 ahead by the 56th minute.
The key moment came four minutes later, two Buffaloes confusing each other to give Hill a scrum 20 metres out, Paul Gleadhill beating three opponents in a break, giving Williams the chance to touch down and goal.
A Gleadhill try then levelled matters in the 62nd minute and, with the final balanced on a knife-edge, Ryan Dickinson's drop-goal attempt for Hill sailed inches wide in the 74th minute.
However, Bramley were feeling the pressure more and four minutes later were penalised for stripping the ball in the tackle, Williams landing the all-important goal from five metres inside the touchline.
Hill then had to knock the ball dead from Gibson's kick through in their last meaningful attack.
Gibson was Bramley's man of the match, Marsh was the game-star for Hill and Williams' Gleadhill-inspired try was the game-breaker.
