Saints » Results

Your super Saints booked their third Challenge Cup Final appearance in a row with a scintillating 26-16 win over Leeds Rhinos.

The Cup holders led 18-2, but two tries from the Rhinos’ brought them right back into it before James Graham combined with Bryn Hargreaves to seal the win.

Saints produced a classy and dominating first half performance, leading 12-2 thanks to Chris Flannery and a fine solo effort from Leon Pryce.

A Francis Meli inspired Jon Wilkin four pointer looked to have seen them home, but it took an almighty defensive effort and a lot of big game experience to send the Saints down Wembley Way.

Pre-match, Paul Sculthorpe was ruled out with a tight hamstring and Paul Clough returned after being rested for the game against Wigan last week.

For Leeds, Brent Webb wasn’t fit to play so Lee Smith took his place.

It was an absolutely boiling Galpharm Stadium that welcomed the two teams, with temperatures on the field in the early thirties twenties, and a white hot atmosphere off it.

Kevin Sinfield kicked deep to start the game and Bryn Hargreaves took in the first drive. James Graham then showed a neat sidestep to evade the would be tacklers.

On Saints’ next set, Jon Wilkin chipped forward to put the Rhinos on the back foot.

Saints were having the better of a frantic opening and Sean Long nearly unlocked the Leeds’ defence on the last tackle with a wonderful high chipped ball – but Ryan Hall defused in goal.

From there, Leeds attacked and it took a great tackle from Ade Gardner to force a mistake with the line begging.

But it was Saints who came up with the first score through Chris Flannery who followed up Sean Long’s darting run to collect the pass and go under the sticks. Longy converting the try he set up.

Seven minutes in, 6-0 to the Red Vee.

Leeds were making their gameplan pretty clear in the opening stages – give the ball plenty of air and run at the Saints’ centres and wings. But in the early phases, they weren’t getting any joy out of the defence and making a number of handling errors.

And it was from a handling error that Saints nearly scored again, going down the field before an opportunistic kick through from Pryce was seized upon by Hall, once again, on his own line.

On the quarter of an hour mark, Leeds were penalised and Saints had six in the Rhinos’ 20. But once again the defence was up to Sean Long’s cheeky kick.

Rob Burrow came off the field on 18 minutes after a collision whilst attempting to tackle Lee Gilmour. At the same time, Bryn was replaced by Clough after an excellent opening stint from the former Wigan prop.

Moments later, Toopi was put on report for a nasty looking tackle on Paul Clough.

And on 21 minutes, Leon Pryce just lost the ball as he was going over the line.

But despite all that pressure, three penalties in a row moved Leeds down the field and Sinfield popped over a penalty to make it 6-2.

Saints hit back soon after, when a magnificent run from Pryce saw him scythe through the Leeds defence to put down – the former Bradford Bull loving every minute of his try against his old foes. Long with the extras.

On the stroke of half time, Sinfield had another pop at the sticks with a penalty from 50 yards out but was well short.

Half Time: Saints 12 Leeds 2

Saints began the second half on the offensive with two towering kicks from Sean Long and some strong forward running in Leeds’ territory.

Paul Wellens was also returning every kick with interest, forcing Leeds further and further into their own half.

Six minutes into the half, Sinfield put up a towering kick for Hall to chase – but he knocked it forward and Meli cleaned up.

And it was Meli who created Saints’ next score. He flew onto a ball on the wing, cut back inside, got the ball away and it found its way to Jon Wilkin who went under the posts… with a fair amount of Leeds would be tacklers in his wake. Long with the conversion.

No amount of superlatives could describe Meli’s run; he simply cut the defence to shreds and popped it on a plate for his teammates backing up.

Superlative defence than stopped a certain Donald try as he was bundled into touch with around two inches to spare.

A couple of minutes later, Lauitiiti poked his way over to reduce the deficit; Sinfield with the two-pointer.

With a quarter of the game to go, Leeds were fired up and Senior almost went in a moment later. But from the next set, Donald flew over in the corner to make it game on. Sinfield just wide with the extras.

What was always a wonderful cup tie erupted into a classic with Donald’s score but Long settled the nerves with a penalty in front of the sticks.

Saints then put in a great tackling stint to keep them eight ahead with 10 minutes to go.

And Bryn Hargreaves sealed the win eight minutes from time when he took a short ball from Graham and went over. Long with the extras.

Ade Gardner forced the ball from Rob Burrow as he went over the line in the dying stages to save a certain try and give Leeds another six from a drop out.

But from that six, Leuluai scored and Sinfield missed a very kickable conversion.

Yet, it was always going to be little too late as Saints drove out their sets to take their 14^th challenge cup tie win in a row.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Saints’ Head Coach Daniel Anderson. “We lost our rhythm a little bit in the second half and Leeds came at us and were courageous. We also had a lot of opportunities to put it to bed. But we showed our professionalism when we needed to.

“Jammer [James Graham] and Clough were enormous, as was Chris Flannery, and I thought Francis Meli was particularly potent.

“It’s great to go back to Wembley. We have played well all year to put us where we are.”

Man of the match James Graham added: “It was a tough game to play in some pretty tough conditions. Someone needs to ask themselves why we are playing a game at 12.30pm in the height of summer. Of course you have to tough it out but does someone need to collapse?

“We have looked forward to this game for a long time but we haven’t once spoken about it within the team. But of course we have had our thoughts on the game.”

Daniel added: “It means a whole lot to be back at Wembley. The fans will be excited and everyone at the Club is excited too.”

Match Summary

Saints:

Tries: Flannery, Pryce, Wilkin, Hargreaves

Goals: Long (5 from 5)

Leeds:

Tries: Lauitiiti, Donald

Goals: Sinfield (2 from 4)

Penalties:

Saints: 14

Leeds: 10

HT (Sts First): 12-2

FT (Sts First): 26-16

REF: Ashley Klein

ATT: 19,842

MOM: James Graham

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long; 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 9. Keiron Cunningham (c), 17. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 12. Jon Wilkin, 16. Chris Flannery.

Subs: 10. Jason Cayless, 14. James Roby, 21. Paul Clough, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu.

Leeds:

5. Lee Smith; 22. Ryan Hall, 3. Clinton Toopi, 4. Keith Senior, 2. Scott Donald; 6. Danny McGuire, 7. Rob Burrow; 8. Kylie Leuluai, 9. Matt Diskin, 10. Jamie Peacock, 14. Ali Lauitiiti, 12. Gareth Ellis, 13. Kevin Sinfield (c).

Subs: 17. Nick Scruton, 18. Ian Kirke, 19. Carl Ablett, 28. Simon Worrall.