Despite traffic jams and rail delay, we still abide with Wembley Way

Change and decay in all around I see, as the old rugby league anthem goes, yet some traditions linger. They may have moved the Challenge Cup final from the August bank holiday to early June, but they’ll still be singing Abide With Me before Hull Kingston Rovers play Warrington Wolves next Saturday (BBC One, 3pm).

Only one winner of the Challenge Cup has been from further south than Widnes in its 129-year history, and the 2018 champions came all the way from Perpignan, but the annual frustrations of motorway traffic and signal failures remain a price worth paying for a day out at Wembley.

Hull KR are seeking only their second win (Warrington their 10th), 45 years after they beat their city rivals Hull FC, when 95,000 made the 200-mile journey from Humberside and a banner over the A63 read: “Will the last person to leave please turn out the lights?” Turnout will be lower this time, though they hope it will reach 65,000, which would be the biggest since 2017. Compare that with the semi-finals, attended by 20,000 combined, and it shows the appeal of a day trip to Wembley.

The same is felt by the fans of Oldham Athletic and Southend United, who contest the National League play-off final there today (DAZN and local radio, 3pm). Ticket sales were capped at 40,000 because Wembley Park station is closed, though it was increased to 50,000 on Thursday. Southend have sold 25,000 and say they could have sold 10,000 more. Their average gate is barely 7,500 but the lure of Wembley Way brings out the romantics.

I know of one person who was so certain York City would be in the final he booked his transport and hotel last month. The Minstermen ended the season six points behind champions Barnet, but 28 points clear of Southend and 23 ahead of Oldham, who beat them 3-0 in the play-offs. Sport can seem unfair.

Rugby union’s Championship concluded yesterday and yet again Ealing Trailfinders are the runaway winners but they won’t go up to the Premiership because their ground doesn’t meet the criteria. Next season, there will be a six-team play-off. As I type before their last match, Ealing are 29 points ahead of Coventry in sixth. A cynic may wonder if the RFU is doing this to get Worcester Warriors, reborn at level two after insolvency with a big stadium if not much of a squad, back to the top table.

Finally, union loses some big names after the Premiership play-offs (Friday, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 1, & Saturday, 3.30pm, TNT Sports 2). Dan Cole, Ben Youngs, Alex Goode, Mike Brown and Danny Care, all of whom played in the great England victory over New Zealand in 2012, will retire after their last match.