Saints book Wembley spot after hard fought victory over Hull FC!

Saints progressed to Wembley after a 33-18 win over Hull FC at Leigh Sports Village on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon!

Tommy Makinson and Regan Grace were both back in the side, but Mark Percival and Agnatius Paasi missed out so Dan Norman came onto the bench for his debut.

The men were looking to follow in the Saints Women’s footsteps and emerge triumphant in Leigh, but it was Hull who took an early 13th minute lead after Saints were penalised for offside. Marc Sneyd kicking the penalty, 2-0.

Saints found their groove moments later mind as we were awarded a penalty in the Hull FC half. A few tackles into the set Theo Fages gave the ball to Regan Grace and the Welsh winger finished spectacularly in the left corner. Lachlan Coote added the extras from the left touchline, 6-2 we led.

Coote then added a penalty shortly after, as Hull FC were caught offside, 8-2 Saints led.

Saints grabbed their second try in the 24th minute. Josh Griffin dropped the ball as he went down injured and Fages picked the up the loose ball and, after a video referee review, the try was given. Coote added the extra two again, 14-2 we led.

Hull FC were again caught offside again in the 28th minute, but Coote’s kick narrowly missed this time around. 14-2.

Grace could have bagged his second try a few minutes later, as he went over with another great finish, but his left foot was in touch. That was the last chance of the half, as Saints led 14-2 at the break.

Saints opened the second half with their third try of the game. Jack Welsby opted to go himself close to the Hull FC line and he reached out to score. It went upstairs, but was confirmed after a video referee review. Coote added the extras, 20-2 Saints led.

This time Hull did respond though. Mahe Fonua forced his way in at the right corner. Marc Sneyd added the extra two, 20-8 to the Saints.

We went close to extending our lead just before the hour mark, but Lewis Dodd was unable to collect a pass from LMS underneath the sticks before the impressive Fages kicked a 64th minute drop goal from close range to make it a three score game.

Hull again responded a minute later though. They opted for a short kick off, then won a penalty as Saints stole the ball, and as they tapped the ball they found an offload for Danny Houghton to score under the sticks. Sneyd added the extras, 21-14 Saints led.

The Black and Whites added another try in the 71st minute to set up a tense affair as Cameron Scott went over from close range. Sneyd missed the conversion, 21-18.

Jake Connor then kicked a 40/20 for Hull as they piled forward for a late winner. However, as they threw the ball from left to right, Grace intercepted and ran the length of the field to send us to Wembley! Coote added the extra two, 27-18 Saints led with five minutes left.

Hull’s hopes were dented and another try followed two minutes later. A high Fages kick was collected by Kevin Naiqama, the Fijian produced a great offload to find Coote, who scored underneath the sticks. Coote converted again and Saints were off to Wembley again!

Kristian Woolf’s men will face either Castleford or Warrington on 17th July. Ticket details will follow.

Saints Team: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Jack Welsby, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Sione Mata’utia, Joel Thompson, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Kyle Amor, Joe Batchelor, Lewis Dodd, Dan Norman.

Tries: Regan Grace (17, 75), Theo Fages (24), Jack Welsby (48), Lachlan Coote (77)

Conversions: Lachlan Coote (5 from 5)

Penalties: Lachlan Coote (1 from 2)

Drop goal: Theo Fages (64)

Hull FC Team: Jake Connor, Mahe Fonua, Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Griffin, Adam Swift, Josh Reynolds, Marc Sneyd, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Manu Ma’u, Jordan Lane.

Interchanges: Josh Bowden, Jack Brown, Brad Fash, Cameron Scott.

Tries: Mahe Fonua (52), Danny Houghton (66), Cameron Scott (72)

Conversions: Marc Sneyd (2 from 3)

Penalties: Marc Sneyd (1 from 1)

HT: 14-2

FT: 33-18

Saints Line up

1 Lachlan Coote
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
1 Jack Welsby
5 Regan Grace
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Theo Fages
8 Alex Walmsley
James Roby
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
11 Sione Mata’utia
11 Joel Thompson
13 Morgan Knowles
18 Kyle Amor
12 Joe Batchelor
7 Lewis Dodd
20 Dan Norman

Hull FC Line up

1Jake Connor
2Mahe Fonua
3Carlos Tuimavave
4Josh Griffin
5Adam Swift
6Josh Reynolds
7Marc Sneyd
8Ligi Sao
9Danny Houghton
10Chris Satae
11Andre Savelio
12Manu Ma’u
13Jordan Lane
14Brad Fash
15Jack Brown
16Josh Bowden
17Cameron Scott

Last updated 5 Jun 21 16:45:32

The Challenge Cup Final will be held at Wembley on Sat 17th July (kick off 3pm). Ticket details will follow W/C Monday 7 June. We will see you there!

𝙒𝙀𝙈𝘽𝙇𝙀𝙔 𝙃𝙀𝙍𝙀 𝙒𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀!

#COYS

80'

FT: ⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-33 SAINTS 😇

Saints are off to Wembley!

#COYS

79'

In the aftermath – Dan Norman is on for his Saints debut!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-33 SAINTS 😇

79'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Coooote adds the extras to his own try!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-33 SAINTS 😇

78'
Try
Lachlan Coote for Saints

🚗 START THE CAR SAINTS! Cooooooote picks up a loose ball from a high kick and strolls over! Wembley here we come!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-31 SAINTS 😇

76'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Cooooote adds the two. Four minutes to go…

⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-27 SAINTS 😇

75'
Try
Regan Grace for Saints

REGANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!! Our Welsh winger intercepts and runs the length of the field to surely send us to Wembley??

⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-25 SAINTS 😇

74'

Jake Connor kicks a 40-20 for Hull. Time to defend.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-21 SAINTS 😇

73'

The kick is inches wide. Saints lead by 3 with 7 minutes to go….

⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-21 SAINTS 😇

72'
Try
Cameron Scott for Hull FC

Hull score in the corner through Cameron Scott. Kick to come.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 18-21 SAINTS 😇

67'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Hull FC

Sneyd adds the two. 13 minutes to go…

⚫⚪ HULL FC 14-21 SAINTS 😇

67'
Try
Danny Houghton for Hull FC

Hull FC respond instantly as Houghton darts over.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 12-21 SAINTS 😇

65'
Drop Goal
Theo Fages for Saints

Fages nails a drop goal to extend our lead!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 8-21 SAINTS 😇

💪 @MorgsKnowles is back out there as Doddy makes way. Big Al is also back on as Batchelor is off for a head assessment…

📸 @plattyphoto

#COYS

60'

At the other end Fonua leaps for the high ball, but he can’t keep hold of it. It’s end to end with 20 minutes to go…Joe Batchlor is on for Amor.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 8-20 SAINTS 😇

58'

We are close to another try, but Dodd’s pass goes forward before Amor can grab hold.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 8-20 SAINTS 😇

Jack Welsby gets the ball down!

📸 @plattyphoto

#COYS

55'

Roby is back on, this time at loose forward as Knowles takes a breather.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 8-20 SAINTS 😇

53'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Hull FC

Sneyd converts.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 8-20 SAINTS 😇

52'
Try
Mahe Fonua for Hull FC

Hull are back in it after Fonua powers his way over in the corner.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 6-20 SAINTS 😇

50'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Coooooooote nails the two from out wide, but Hull have the ball back following a penalty from the restart.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-20 SAINTS 😇

49'
Try
Jack Welsby for Saints

YES WE CAN! The ball is moved out to our left and Lomax finds ‘THE KING’ Jack Welsby who reaches out to score! Kick to come…

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-18 SAINTS 😇

49'

Saints are camped in the Hull FC half as we win another set of six. Can we make it count?

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

43'

Mata’utia has the first chance of the second half, but he knocks on when going for the line. Hull survive.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

41'

We are back underway here in Leigh! COYS!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

40'

HT: ⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

We lead at the break after tries from Grace and Fages.

#COYS

35'

James Roby makes way as young Lewis Dodd comes on. Go well, Doddy!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

33'

Grace thinks he’s grabbed a second, but his foot is in touch. LMS is off as Big Al comes back on in his place. Seven to go until the break…

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

The Saints fans in that corner celebrating Grace’s opening try…

📸 @plattyphoto

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

28'

We win another penalty in the Hull half and again Coote goes for the two, but this time he pushes it wide.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

26'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Cooote adds the two for Saints as Griffin hobbles off. Hopefully it’s not too serious for the Hull man. Saints lead by 12.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-14 SAINTS 😇

25'
Try
Theo Fages for Saints

THEOOO! Josh Griffin comes out with the ball, catches a knock to the foot, drops the ball and Fages picks it up to run in our second try!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-12 SAINTS 😇

22'

Big Al is off as Kyle Amor comes on in his place. Hull have the ball on half way as Saints look to build pressure!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-8 SAINTS 😇

20'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

We win another penalty to the left of the sticks and Cooooote adds another two!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-8 SAINTS 😇

18'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

COOOOOOOOOTE’s kick from the touchline strikes the post and goes over! We lead!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-6 SAINTS 😇

17'
Try
Regan Grace for Saints

REGANNNNNNN! The ball is moved out to our left and Theo Fages fires a BULLET pass out wide to @ReganGrace5 who dives over in the corner! What a finish!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-4 SAINTS 😇

16'

Chris Satae knocks on when under a challenge from Sione Mata’utia. We have a set in the Hull FC half – come on boys!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-0 SAINTS 😇

14'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Hull FC

Hull win a penalty as Saints are caught offside. Sneyd takes the two from just to the right of the sticks.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 2-0 SAINTS 😇

A battle up the middle so far! 💪

@joel_thompson12 💥

#COYS

10'

Both sides have exchanged a number of sets with defences on top, but Saints knock on and now have to defend a set in our own half.

⚫⚪ HULL FC 0-0 SAINTS 😇

5'

A ferocious start from both teams as Morgan Knowles is caught with a big hit before Big Al catches Andre Savelio with another. Come on boys!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 0-0 SAINTS 😇

1'

We are off and underway in our Challenge Cup semi-final! COYS!

⚫⚪ HULL FC 0-0 SAINTS 😇

A shout out to the returning Tommy Makinson who makes his 250th St Helens appearance this afternoon! 👏

Here we go! The boys are out and ready to go…💪

BIG Dan Norman makes his debut from the bench this afternoon! Go well, Dan!

Woolf on Paasi and Norman: Unfortunately Agnatius didn’t quite make it as did Mark Percival so we are a couple short but I am really comfortable about who is coming in and Dan Norman makes his debut which is well earnt!

Now it’s time for our Saints men and this is how they will line up this afternoon! The BIG news sees Dan Norman make his Saints debut from the bench as Agnatius Paasi misses out.

Our Girls have done it!!! Congratulations to all involved. Stay tuned later today and over the weekend for all their reaction. It’s now time to turn our attentions to our Men – and we will have team news up next!

FT: 🔴⚪ St Helens Women 34-6 York Ladies ⚔️

We are The Challenge Cup Women’s Champions after second half tries from Woosey, Carrie Roberts and Paige Travis!!!!!!!! 🏆

#COYS

Our Saints Women lead 28-6 as we approach the final quarter of the Challenge Cup Women’s Final!

HT: 🔴⚪️ Saints Women 20-0 York City Ladies ⚔️

Half way there! We take a healthy lead into the break after tries from Danielle Bush, Rachael Woosey, Emily Rudge and Amy Hardcastle! 🔴⚪️

#COYS

Approaching half-time here in Leigh and our Women lead 8-0 after tries from Danielle Bush and Rachael Woosey!

We are off and underway in the Women’s Final! Follow live updates on our Twitter account (@saints1890)…COYS!

The girls are all set! Kick off is 11:15am. Watch our Saints live on BBC Two!

This is how our Women line up for their Challenge Cup Final with kick off at 11:15am!

Welcome to Leigh Sports Village for our DOUBLE HEADER Gameday as our Saints Women take on York at 11.15am live on BBC Two before our Men take on Hull FC at 2:30pm on BBC One. We will have all the updates for you!