Saints see off Halifax to book a spot at Wembley

Saints beat 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.

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

Saints Line up

6 Jonny Lomax
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
4 Mark Percival
5 Regan Grace
7 Theo Fages
7 Danny Richardson
8 Alex Walmsley
James Roby
10 Luke Thompson
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
12 Dominique Peyroux
18 Joseph Paulo
10 Matty Lees
18 Kyle Amor
17 Jack Ashworth
12 James Bentley

Halifax Line up

1Scott Grix
2Shaun Robinson
3Steve Tyrer
4James Saltonstall
5Will Sharp
6Scott Murrell
7Ben Johnston
8Adam Tangata
9Brandon Moore
10Ben Kavanagh
11Chester Butler
12Ed Barber
13Jacob Fairbank
14Ben Kaye
15Elliot Morris
16Dan Fleming
17Kevin Larroyer

Last updated 27 Jul 19 18:18:07

SAINTS ARE OFF TO WEMBLEY! ?⚪

A professional second half performance sees us through to Wembley after tries from Peyroux, Lomax and Fages!

75'

To their credit, Halifax fail to lie down and force a goal line drop out. They have been a credit to the Championship this afternoon as we approach the final five minutes here in Bolton.

?⚪ SAINTS 26-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

71'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

Richardson does the rest…

?⚪ SAINTS 26-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

70'
Try
Theo Fages for Saints

We are in again through Fages! Once again the brilliant Roby scoots from dummy half and puts in an inch perfect grubber and Fages has the easy task of picking up and touching down!

?⚪ SAINTS 24-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

? Lomax bundles his way over for our latest try!

66'

It’s all Saints now, but after Lomax’s dives under two tackles, Naiqama loses the ball when sliding for the line.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

62'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

Richardson nails the kick from the far right and we extend our lead…Great kick Danny!

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

61'
Try
Jonny Lomax for Saints

YESSSSSS! Again Roby is involved as he scoots from dummy half, plays the ball right to Richardson who feeds Lomax and he finds the gap to score in the corner!

?⚪ SAINTS 18-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

? Seconds before Dom Peyroux touches down….

55'

Roby this time forces a second goal line drop out. The pressure is building…….

?⚪ SAINTS 14-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

55'

Percival puts in a grubber kick through which is chased by Richardson, but Halifax pat the ball dead and Saints will come again. Can we grab another?

?⚪ SAINTS 14-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

53'

Roby so nearly kicks a wonderful 40/20 as the Saints fans find their voice here in this Semi Final! COYS!

?⚪ SAINTS 14-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

51'

Richardson is caught high, but fumbles the play the ball and knocks on before Kev Naiqama is adjudged to have ripped the ball out as he raced clear.

?⚪ SAINTS 14-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

48'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

Richardson adds the extras from in front of the sticks!

?⚪ SAINTS 14-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

47'
Try
Dominique Peyroux for Saints

But we now do have something to report as Dom Peyroux powers his way over, picking up a short ball and despite it going upstairs, the video referee gives the TRY!

?⚪ SAINTS 12-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

46'

A pretty even start to the second half with the only real action to report of being Saints penalised for offside on the Halifax line.

?⚪ SAINTS 8-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

41'

Here we go for the second half. Come on boys!

?⚪ SAINTS 8-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

?⚪ SAINTS 8-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

After a tight first half which saw two penalty goals kicked by Richardson and Tyrer, it was left to captain James Roby to break the stubborn Halifax defence to send us in at the break 8-2 up.

36'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

Richardson adds the extras to extend our lead.

?⚪ SAINTS 8-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

35'
Try
James Roby for Saints

This stubborn Halifax defence is finally breached thanks to our captain who scoots from dummy half to power over! Get in!!!

?⚪ SAINTS 6-2 HALIFAX ?⚪

? Thommo flies forward in what is a tight cup tie so far!

#saintsandproud

32'

We try and move the ball quickly from right to left, but Lomax’s offload is knocked on by LMS.

?⚪ Saints 2-2 Halifax ?⚪

26'

Makinson dives for the corner in typically spectacular fashion, but the video referee rules the try out as he knocked on when trying to ground the ball.

?⚪ Saints 2-2 Halifax ?⚪

21'

Big Al loses the ball on the Halifax line following another short Roby ball as Halifax again survive.

?⚪ Saints 2-2 Halifax ?⚪

19'

Both sides exchange sets before Luke Thompson forces Tangata to knock on and we have a chance here in the Halifax half!

?⚪ Saints 2-2 Halifax ?⚪

14'
Goal
Steve Tyrer for Halifax

Halifax win a penalty after a late Saints’ tackle and Tyrer takes the two to level the game up.

?⚪ Saints 2-2 Halifax ?⚪

14'

Lomax is trapped in goal as the Halifax fans find their voice here in Bolton. Come on boys!

?⚪ Saints 2-0 Halifax ?⚪

12'

Halifax defend well and Theo Fages is tackled on the last, before Tommy Makinson picks up Murrell’s deep kick and the set results in a forward pass out wide to Regan Grace.

?⚪ Saints 2-0 Halifax ?⚪

10'

Roby forces Halifax to knock on again in the first play and Saints will again come forward!

?⚪ Saints 2-0 Halifax ?⚪

9'

A short ball from Roby finds LMS, but he knocks on right on the Halifax line, before Saints are penalised for offside and Murrell kicks for touch.

?⚪ Saints 2-0 Halifax ?⚪

7'

Scott Murrell kicks out on the full and Saints have the restart on the Halifax 20. COYS!

?⚪ Saints 2-0 Halifax ?⚪

5'

Halifax again go for the short kick off and win the ball back, but Adam Tangata knocks on in the tackle and we are back on the attack.

?⚪ Saints 2-0 Halifax ?⚪

4'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

Richardson takes the two and slots us into the lead.

?⚪ Saints 2-0 Halifax ?⚪

3'

Richardson kicks on the last and the ball finds it way back to James Roby who kicks through for Alex Walmlsey, but the big man is blocked off and we win a penalty in front of the Fax sticks.

?⚪ Saints 0-0 Halifax ?⚪

1'

Halifax opt for a short kick off and have the ball on the Saints line, but Jonny Lomax comes to Saints’ rescue picking up the grubber kick before we win a penalty.

?⚪ Saints 0-0 Halifax ?⚪

We are off and underway in the second Semi Final here at the University of Bolton Stadium with Warrington waiting in the Final at Wembley. COYS! ?⚪

?⚪ Saints 0-0 Halifax ?⚪