Saints » Results

Saints 25 v 14 Warrington

St Helens booked their seventh consecutive appearance in the Challenge Cup Semi Finals courtesy of a superb second half performance against local neighbours Warrington Wolves.

Tries from Gilmour, Talau, Gardner and Roby turned around a 12-4 deficit at half time.

Sean Long returned after an absence of four games and Paul Clough came in for the injured Paul Sculthorpe.

It was also 150 appearances up for Ade who clocked another landmark in a glittering Saints’ career.

Warrington started with the same team that lost to Leeds last week. Ex-Saints Vinnie Anderson and Martin Gleeson not fit enough to play.

And Saints got off to the best start when Talau surprisingly kicked through – Meli sucking in the tackler and Gilly picked up the loose ball to go over.

Warrington should have tied it straight away but Fa'afili made a total hash of a 2 on 1 overlap close to the Saints line.

Maurie got himself on report on 23 minutes for lashing out on Ben Westwood but it seemed to galvanise the team who began to put some big hits and big tackles in.

A few minutes later Sean Long put a tame high ball up near the posts – but it was anything but - causing widespread panic in the Wire defence.

James Roby picked up the resulting bouncing ball and going over. But the video ref spotted a Paul Wellens knock on and wiped it off.

Warrington made Saints pay for that indiscretion a few minutes later when a great passing move sent Kevin Penny in the corner. Briers added the extras.

Then Long kicked out on the full after the conversion and from the resultant penalty Fa'afili came up with the four pointer after some poor defence. Briers again converting from the corner.

Warrington went in 12-4 up at half time and Saints needed a Halliwell Jones style comeback once again…

And it started well when Sean Long combined with Ade Gardner to pull four back. The scrum half kicking cross field for Gardner to catch and flick back excellently to Talau. Wello wide with the extras.

On 48 Warrington were penalised for offside from a Wilko bomb; then were caught again straight after. From the penalty Talau did the damage combining with Wilkin and Gidley to send Gardner in. Wello again wide with the extras.

The Saints came again; Pryce working some magic, dummying his way to twenty out – but his tryscoring pass to Meli was adjudged forward.

Briers added a penalty on 53 minutes to put the Wire ahead.

The next try was sheer Saints’ brilliance. The ball was kept alive 40 out through KC. He got his arms free from the tackle, passed to Wilkin who gave Long acres of space to send Gilly under the sticks. Wello finally adding Saints’ first conversion of the game.

Wellens added a conversion to take Saints’ lead to six and Long dropped a pearler to make it seven.

And a super run by Roby sealed the win.

Saints:

Tries: Gilmour (2), Talau, Gardner, Roby

Goals: Long (0 from 1), Wellens (2 from 5)

Drop: Long

Warrington:

Tries: Penny, Fa'afili

Goals: Briers (3 from 3)

Penalties:

Saints: 8

Warrington: 6

HT: 4-12

FT: 25-14

MOM: Lee Gilmour

Saints:

1 Paul Wellens, 2 Ade Gardner, 3 Matt Gidley, 4 Willie Talau, 5 Francis Meli, 6 Leon Pryce, 7 Sean Long, 8 Nick Fozzard, 9 Keiron Cunningham, 10 Jason Cayless, 11 Lee Gilmour, 12 Jon Wilkin, 22 Paul Clough. Subs: 14 James Roby, 17 James Graham, 18 Bryn Hargreaves, 23 Maurie Fa'asavalu

Warrington:

5 Brent Grose, 26 Kevin Penny, 4 Paul Johnson, 2 Henry Fa'afili, 24 Chris Riley, 9 Jon Clarke, 7 Lee Briers, 16 Paul Wood, 14 Mark Gleeson, 11 Adrian Morley, 12 Ben Westwood, 15 Rob Parker, 23 Mike Wainwright. Subs: 17 Mike Sullivan, 21 Andrew Bracek, 10 Paul Rauhihi, 19 Steve Pickersgill

Referee: Richard Silverwood