Head Coach Justin Holbrook gave his reaction to our Coral Challenge Cup Semi Final victory over Halifax and admitted he was naturally pleased to book our spot at Wembley.
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.
And Holbrook was naturally delighted his side are at Wembley for the first time in 11 years, whilst he paid credit to Halifax for their proud effort.
“I am just really happy to win. Obviously in the Semi Final the main thing is to win and get to Wembley and we have done that so it is really pleasing.
“We expected a tough game and it was great that we won the game, but it was also good for the competition over here to have a Championship side in the Semi Final and to play as well as they did I thought was great. They tried hard for the full 80 minutes, but for us I am just happy we won.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game. They were always going to make it hard for us and they are tricky games to play when you are the side that everyone says you have already won the game. In the end it was a Semi Final to get to Wembley. That’s what we kept telling ourselves and it was in tough conditions in the end with the constant drizzle.
“We tried to play a bit too much in the first half and we didn’t handle that very well, but we settled down a bit better in the second half which was great. Defensively we were terrific for 80 minutes.
“We all know we haven’t been to Wembley for a long time and that was weighing on the boys shoulders as well so it was a tough game, but the outside backs did a great job, in particular Mark Percival who was the best on the field tonight. He carried strong and defended really well.
“It’s hard as a coach because you want to play better, but when it all sinks in the fact that we are there is terrific and I am looking forward to it.”
