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Saints favourites to win again

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 11/06/2009

St Helens remain on course for a fourth consecutive Challenge Cup title as the tournament takes a two-month break before reconvening in August for two semi-final clashes.

Saints had begun the tournament as rugby league betting favourites after defeating Hull 28-16 at Wembley last season, a success which followed a 30-8 thrashing of Catalans Dragons in 2007 and a convincing 42-12 win over Huddersfield in 2006.

The Super League leaders have barely been troubled in the competition this season, putting 13 tries past minnows Gateshead Thunder in the quarter-finals and eight past Catalans the round before.

Only fellow big-guns Leeds Rhinos gave them a scare after the round four draw brought together the two rivals for a match that Saints would win despite the absence of influential half-back Sean Long.

Indeed it was the use of second rower Jon Wilkin, who would put in a man of the match performance in an unfamiliar half-back position, which helped Saints come from 4-6 down to take a commanding 20-6 lead before Brent Webb and Keith Senior helped restore some Rhinos pride as the match finished 22-18.

With all the Super League sides in clinical form there was little in the way of giantkilling, although Salford City Reds surprised many by beating Hull in the fourth round to secure only their second win of the season.

Instead it was left to Gateshead to provide the potential fairytale story as the 2008 National League Two champions beat fellow Co-operative Championship sides Whitehaven, Doncaster and Oldham Roughyeds to set up their doomed quarter-final clash with Saints.

After Wigan had also cruised through their quarter-final test, at home to Salford, it was left to Hull KR against Warrington and Huddersfield versus Castleford to provide the tournament with some games to remember.

With four tries each a 78th minute Michael Dobson penalty pulled Rovers level on 24 points to send the match into sudden-death overtime where stand-off Lee Briers made himself a hero with a dramatic drop-goal five minutes into the 'Golden Point' session.

Not to be outdone, 24 hours later Huddersfield found themselves 6-14 down in front of a packed Galpharm Stadium and a large TV audience.

With little over ten minutes to go, Stephen Wild sparked a frantic finale by scoring a converted try, leaving Danny Kirkmond to become a hero with his 77th minute try proving a fitting end to the Challenge Cup quarter-final round.

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