Saints beaten in Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals

Six minutes in, an opportunity looked to come for Saints. A quick play the ball allowed Jonny Lomax plenty of room to run down the short-side into Warrington’s half, Saints tried to move the ball through the hands but one of the final passes travelled forward as Waqa Blake looked to come inside from the edge.

Almost instantly Warrington had the best chance of the game early on. Connor Wrench broke deep inside Saints territory, he tried to find Josh Thewlis on his outside, but Blake got back and Saints were able to push the ball out for a goal-line dropout.

Ten minutes in, the visitors went ahead. After back to back dropouts, the Wolves had numbers down their right edge and Matt Dufty threw a cut-out pass to Thewlis who strolled over in the corner. Thewlis was unable to convert his own try, 0-4 Saints trailed.

The video referee was called upon 26 minutes in. Lewis Dodd spotted a run by Joe Batchelor so opted to kick early, the ball bounced favourably for Saints’ #12 and he offloaded to Konrad Hurrell who walked over in the corner. Chris Kendall quickly agreed with Jack Smith’s on-field call of try. Jon Bennison converted from the right touchline, 6-4 Saints led.

Saints had a chance to apply more pressure soon after. Dodd’s high kick was fumbled by Dufty, but despite spending a set on Warrington’s line, the kick on the last was easily collected by the visitors after a ricochet. Minutes later Saints looked like they were in again. Hurrell attracted plenty of attention as he drove forward and was able to offload to Tommy Makinson who dove over in the corner. The referee brought it back for a forward pass.

Another chance quickly followed. Blake set Bennison away down the left wing, he kicked back inside and it was collected by Dodd, but he fumbled the ball short of the line under pressure.

Three minutes before the break, Warrington were awarded a penalty after a late hit off the ball. They opted to kick for goal, Thewlis made no mistake this time around, 6-6 it was tied. With basically the final play of the first half, George Williams kicked a drop goal to put Warrington ahead 6-7 at the break.

⏸ The visiting Wolves edge the lead at half time after a late drop goal.

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➡ https://t.co/wgLtT0PuTi#COYS pic.twitter.com/S9uJQIBssr

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 14, 2024

Saints took the lead 14 minutes in the second half. The hosts were awarded a penalty down the right edge, Bennison again stepped up and converted from the right touchline, 8-7 Saints led.

Lomax made an error from the kick off. Saints were forced to dropout and during the set, Warrington shifted it left and Matty Ashton finished well in the corner under pressure from Jack Welsby. The referee agreed with the on-field call of try. Thewlis converted, 8-13 the visitors led.

Another trip to the video referee soon followed. Danny Walker tried to pinch one from dummy half but fumbled the ball. Again the referee agreed with the on-field call of no try, 8-13 it remained.

Two minutes later, we were going upstairs again. Leon Hayes’ testing kick was allowed to bounce under the Saints sticks and was collected by Wrench who had the simple task of putting the ball down. Again, the on-field decision of try was agreed with. Thewlis converted, 8-19 Warrington led.

Again, two minutes later, we had another trip upstairs. Ashton dribbled his way down the left edge and was able to collect the loose ball to score in the corner. Again the referee’s on-field call of no try was agreed with, as Ashton had touched the ball with his hand prior to scoring the try.

Warrington looked to have sealed the victory with eleven minutes to go. Saints opted for a short dropout, it didn’t pay off and as a result the visitors moved downfield and James Harrison crashed over from close range. Thewlis converted, 8-25.

Another try followed. Warrington went down their short-side, Dufty broke and found Williams in support to score. Thewlis added the extras, 8-31.

⏹ A bitterly disappointing performance against Warrington sees the Saints exit the Challenge Cup.#COYS pic.twitter.com/9ZVrLEOf41

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 14, 2024

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Waqa Blake, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, George Delaney, Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Sione Mata’utia, Moses Mbye, James Bell, Matt Whitley.

18th Man: Ben Davies.

Tries: Konrad Hurrell (26)

Conversions: Jon Bennison (1 from 1)

Penalties: Jon Bennison (1 from 1)

Warrington Wolves Team: Matt Dufty, Josh Thewlis, Connor Wrench, Toby King, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Josh Drinkwater, James Harrison, Danny Walker, Joe Philbin, Matty Nicholson, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Jordy Crowther.

Interchanges: Joe Bullock, Adam Holroyd, Sam Powell, Max Wood.

18th Man: Leon Hayes.

Tries: Josh Thewlis (10), Matty Ashton (55), Connor Wrench (61), James Harrison (69), George Williams (72)

Conversions: Josh Thewlis (4 from 5)

Penalties: Josh Thewlis (1 from 1)

Dropgoal: George Williams (40)

HT: 6-7

FT: 8-31

Attendance: 11,280