Saints were beaten 12-10 by Leigh at the Halliwell Jones Stadium earlier on this afternoon.

After a close opening first 20 minutes of the gap, the video referee was called upon for a Saints try. Joey Lussick went for one from dummy half to the left of the Leigh sticks and grounded the ball. The video referee agreeing with the referees view of try. The returning Tommy Makinson adding the extras, 0-6 Saints led.

Saints went close again soon after. A flowing move from left to right with the Red V camped on the Leigh line ended with Makinson trying a spectacular finish in the corner. However, he was ruled to have dropped the ball as he went to ground it.

With the final play of the first half, Saints were awarded a penalty as Leigh got caught offside. Makinson went for two, but his effort went wide of the sticks, so Saints led 0-6 at the break in Warrington.

Leigh levelled the game almost instantly in the second half. Lachlan Lam put Oliver Holmes through a gap and he broke away to score in the corner. Ben Reynolds added the extras, 6-6 the sides were tied.

Saints went close to re-taking the lead as Jack Welsby found Makinson, but the wing slipped and was pushed into touch.

Leigh then took the lead. A kick to the corner bounced and found its way to Zak Hardaker who grounded it, despite Tee Ritson appearing to have been pushed in the process. Reynolds missed the kick, 10-6.

Sione Mata’utia was then sent to the sin bin for a late shot. Reynolds added the penalty, 12-6 the Leopards led. Saints lost Agnatius Paasi to a knee injury shortly after too.

Saints grabbed a try with less than two minutes to go. Saints threw it about and Jonny Lomax broke through a gap before reaching over to score. Makinson missed the conversion attempt, 12-10 Leigh led.

That was the final action of the game, as Saints missed out on the Betfred Challenge Cup Final after suffering a 12-10 defeat against Leigh Leopards at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Match Summary

Leigh Leopards Team: Gareth O’Brien, Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Ed Chamberlain, Josh Charnley, Ben Reynolds, Lachlan Lam, Robbie Mulhern, Edwin Ipape, Tom Amone, Jack Hughes, Oliver Holmes, John Asiata.

Interchanges: Matt Davis, Ben Nakubuwai, Joe Mellor, Nathan Wilde.

18th Man: Ava Seumanufagai.

Tries: Oliver Holmes (20), Zak Hardaker (55)

Conversions: Ben Reynolds (1 from 2)

Penalties: Ben Reynolds (1 from 1)

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Will Hopoate, Tee Ritson, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Joey Lussick, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, James Bell, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, Ben Davies, George Delaney.

18th Man: Sam Royle.

Tries: Joey Lussick (19), Jonny Lomax (78)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (1 from 1)

Penalties: Tommy Makinson (0 from 1)

Sin Bins: Sione Mata’utia (61)

HT: 0-6

FT: 12-10

Attendance: 12113

Saints 21 Man Squad

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
23 Konrad Hurrell
3 Will Hopoate
25 Tee Ritson
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Lewis Dodd
8 Alex Walmsley
14 Joey Lussick
10 Matty Lees
11 Sione Mata’utia
15 James Bell
13 Morgan Knowles
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
17 Agnatius Paasi
21 Ben Davies
20 George Delaney
22 Sam Royle
20 Dan Norman
5 Jonathan Bennison
12 Joe Batchelor

Leigh Leopards 21 Man Squad

17Gareth O'Brien
2Tom Briscoe
1Zak Hardaker
3Ed Chamberlain
5Josh Charnley
15Ben Reynolds
7Lachlan Lam
8Tom Amone
9Edwin Ipape
10Robbie Mulhern
16Oliver Holmes
12Jack Hughes
13John Asiata
6Joe Mellor
14Ben Nakubuwai
18Matt Davis
25Nathan Wilde
27Ava Seumanufagai
25Nathan Wilde
27Ava Seumanufagai
21

Last updated 22 Jul 23 16:24:31

⏹ Leigh Leopards edge out the Saints by two points in the Challenge Cup Semi-Final.

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FT
79'

Makinson’s kick is wide.

31 second left.

🐆 12-10 😇

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78'
Try
Jonny Lomax for Saints

LOMAXXXXXXXX! The Saints #6 runs at the line, dummies and goes over! COME ON!

🐆 12-10 😇

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77'

Lomax’s kick means Leigh have to take it and he force a GLDO.

🐆 12-6 😇

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76'

🔄 Paasi off, Lees on.

🐆 12-6 😇

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75'

Welsby gives Paasi a short ball near the line looking to power over, but he cops a bad tackle and stays down.

🐆 12-6 😇

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73'

Saints come close with Knowles and Lomax linking up in the middle but Jonny’s short of the line. On the last Dodd kicks a short ball which O’Brien collects.

🐆 12-6 😇

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70'

Makinson gets a short-side pass, but is held up. Saints then knock on as we try to go again. Pressure reliever for Leigh.

🐆 12-6 😇

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69'

Welsby with a smart kick into the in-goal forces Leigh to clear it for a GLDO.

🐆 12-6 😇

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68'

Konrad is convinced he’s scored, but the video ref is called upon who sends it up as a ‘No Try’ and it’s confirmed as no score.

🐆 12-6 😇

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68'

Hurrell charges to the line but is inches short. On the last Lomax kicks but Leigh are pulled for being offside.

🐆 12-6 😇

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66'

Great scrambling defence from the Saints! The Leopards knock on by their own 40m.

🐆 12-6 😇

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64'

Good defence from 12-man Saints, keeping the Leopards by the halfway line.

🐆 12-6 😇

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63'
Goal
Ben Reynolds for Leigh Leopards

Leigh following the sin bin get a penalty, they elect to kick from 10m out. Reynolds adds the two.

🐆 12-6 😇

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61'
Yellow Card
Sione Mata'utia for Saints

Mata’utia hits Reynolds late. The referee pulls Lomax and Sione for a word and issues a yellow card.

🐆 10-6 😇

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59'

Makinson on the sidelines throws the ball back in, we go all the way across to the left to Sione Mata’utia who goes for a kick, but it’s too strong.

🐆 10-6 😇

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55'

🔄 Paasi and Delaney off, Walmsley and Knowles back on.

🐆 10-6 😇

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54'
Try
Zak Hardaker for Leigh Leopards

Try. Leigh. Lam places a kick into the in-goal, Ritson looks to be shoved without the ball but nothing given.

Hardaker leaps onto it for a try before it runs out.

Kick missed.

🐆 10-6 😇

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52'

Fantastic tackle by Bell and Lomax on O’Brien! ✊

🐆 6-6 😇

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51'

Makinson goes close again! The winger slips as he takes a Welsby catch in the corner to stop a set.

🐆 6-6 😇

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50'

Saints defend strong in the middle, Delaney on his opposite man stops him well.

🐆 6-6 😇

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48'

Saints defend their line for two sets, the Leopards with wind in their sails keep trying offloads and second phase rugby – looking to unlock the defence again but no good.

🐆 6-6 😇

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45'
Goal
Ben Reynolds for Leigh Leopards

Ben Reynolds adds the extras and it’s level.

🐆 6-6 😇

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44'
Try
Oliver Holmes for Leigh Leopards

Try. Leigh.

The Leopards get a penalty for a high tackle. On the run Oliver Holmes spots a gap and he races 20m to score.

🐆 4-6 😇

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40'

🔄 LMS off, Lees back on for the start of the half.

🐆 0-6 😇

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Back underway at the Halliwell Jones Stadium for the Challenge Cup Semi-Final! COME ON YOU SAINTSSS!

🐆 0-6 😇

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⏸ Saints lead by six at the break in the Challenge Cup Semi-Final.

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HT
40'

Tommy Makinson misses the kick to end the half.

🐆 0-6 😇

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39'

Saints get back-to-back penalties, with seconds left in the half we’ll go for the two.

🐆 0-6 😇

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36'

🔄 Lees off, Delaney on. LET’S GO GEORGE!

🐆 0-6 😇

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35'

A let off for Leigh, Paasi charging for the line spins and offloads, but Ipape grabs it and relieves the pressure.

🐆 0-6 😇

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34'

💪 Matty Lees that is a great tackle! Dodd’s high kick stays in the field of play, Leesy tackles a Leigh man in the in-goal!

Jack Welsby’s back on.

🐆 0-6 😇

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31'

🟩 Welsby is shown a green card, he must come off for two minutes after staying down following a heavy collision.

🐆 0-6 😇

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31'

More pressure by St. Helens on the Leopards line, but still no more points. Welsby goes for a short kick but Leigh recover the ball.

🐆 0-6 😇

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28'

Ohhh so close to a second Saints score, Wellens men shape up right and a hit out pass to Makinson allows him to dive but he loses the ball as he goes to ground it.

🐆 0-6 😇

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26'

🔄 Knowles and Walmsley off, LMS and Paasi on.

🐆 0-6 😇

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25'

Mata’utia drives it in to the left edge on the last, Leigh start by their 10m line.

🐆 0-6 😇

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23'

Joey with a 40/20! 👏

🐆 0-6 😇

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22'

Goof set after points, we move the Leopards back again towards their own line and keep them by our 40m before they kick.

🐆 0-6 😇

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20'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Tommy tacks on the two! ✌

🐆 0-6 😇

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19'
Try
Joey Lussick for Saints

JOEYYY! From dummy half the hooker scoots over and grounds the ball for the opener!

🐆 0-4 😇

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18'

Welsby looks to unlock Leigh on the left, they knock on giving us a set 10m out.

🐆 0-0 😇

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16'

Ritson on the last is running out of space so kicks into the in-goal but Lam picks it up well to stop our attack.

🐆 0-0 😇

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14'

Leigh get their first serious attack of the game, they look to have knocked the ball down at the play of it – but we firm up in defence well. Ipape on the last kicks and Welsby takes it well.

🐆 0-0 😇

12'

More pressure on the Leopards line by Saints, Lomax this time floats the ball to the middle but Leigh leap highest.

🐆 0-0 😇

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10'

Saints looking to find the opening points. A Dodd high bomb is taken well though.

🐆 0-0 😇

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8'

With Leigh again back on their own line, Dodd goes for a short kick into the in-goal but Leopards collect it well.

🐆 0-0 😇

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6'

Saints go down the short-side on a couple of occasions, Leigh pushed back in their own 20m. More good D keeps them there.

🐆 0-0 😇

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4'

More good early defence from the men in sky blue and navy, keeping Leigh in their own half. Ritson with a good catch too off a high one.

🐆 0-0 😇

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2'

Saints with a good first bit of defending, then Makinson with a strong early carry! Good to see you back Tommy!

🐆 0-0 😇

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Kick Off

KICK-OFF! One side is going to Wembley, it’s knock-out rugby league with the Saints taking on the Leopards in the Challenge Cup Semi-Final!

🎶 Oh when the Saints!

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😇 Here’s how The Saints line up for the Challenge Cup Semi-Final!

Makinson & Ritson are 🔙 on the wings, Lussick starts at #9, and Davies comes into the team on the bench

Come. On. You. Saints.

⚪ 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗬 🔴

🆚 York Valkyrie
🏆 Challenge Cup
📌 Halliwell Jones Stadium
⌚ 11:45am KO
📺 BBC iPlayer

🔵 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗬 🔵

🆚 Leigh Leopards
🏆 Challenge Cup
📌 Halliwell Jones Stadium
⌚ 2:30pm KO
📺 BBC One