Saints saw off a stubborn Halifax team 26-2 at the University of Bolton Stadium to reach the Coral Challenge Cup Final at Wembley where we will face Warrington Wolves.
An early penalty from Danny Richardson gave Saints the lead before the scores were levelled through a Stephen Tyrer penalty. A late James Roby try sent Saints into half time with a six point lead, before we kicked away in the second half.
Dominic Peyroux crashed his way over to extend the lead before Jonny Lomax scored in the corner to finish off a flowing move. Theo Fages latched onto a Roby kick through to touchdown for the final try of the game sending Saints to Wembley.
Saints who got the first points of the game after a grubber kick through from the irrepressible Roby resulted in Alex Walmsley being hauled back, Danny Richardson kicked the penalty giving Saints an early lead.
Halifax levelled the game minutes later through a Stephen Tyrer penalty after Saints were penalised for a late tackle.
Saints put Halifax under pressure with set after set on their line, but Saints were denied by Halifax’s stubborn defence.
But captain Roby stepped up to grab the opening try of the game minutes before the break picking the ball up from dummy half and crashed his way over from close range. Richardson added the extras sending Saints into the break with a six point lead.
Saints opened the second half with our second try. Jack Ashworth fed Peyroux with a short ball and he wrestled his way over to touchdown. Richardson added the two.
Saints were in full control forcing repeat sets on the Halifax line and the pressure was rewarded on the hour mark as a flowing move on the right edge resulted in Richardson feeding Lomax and the full back slid in at the corner.
Saints were in again through Fages as the Frenchmen latched onto a neat kick through from Roby to score Saints final try of the game meaning we are off to Wembley for the first time in over a decade where we will face the Warrington Wolves after they defeated Hull FC in the earlier game.
Match Summary
Starting 13: Lomax, Grace, Makinson, Percival, Naiqama, Fages, Richardson, Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, LMS, Peyroux, Paulo.
Interchanges: Amor, Lees, Ashworth, Bentley.
Tries: Roby (35), Peyroux ( 47), Lomax ( 61), Fages (70).
Goals: Richardson ( 4 from 4).
Penalties: Richardson ( 1 from 1).
Halifax
Starting 13: Grix, Robinson, Tyrer, Saltonstall, Sharp, Murrell, Johnston, Tangata, Moore, Kavanagh, Butler, Barber, Fairbank.
Interchanges: Kaye, Morris, Fleming, Larroyer.
Penalties: Tyrer ( 1 from 1).
HT: 8-2
FT: 26-2
REF: C.Kendall
ATT: 24,364
